It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Mr. Rogers, if you don’t know, had a somewhat troubled childhood riddled with bullying about his weight. He lost the weight, yes, but held onto the lessons he learned at the hands of those bullies. This, I think, was the most magical thing about his production: kindness. He spent his life ensuring children knew they weren’t alone and that there was at least one adult who cared. Mr. Rogers invited us into his home, his life, and instantly became the gentle fatherly figure that we didn’t even know we needed.
Divorce, racism, assassination and death, violence — so many big things happened in the 30+ year run of the show, all kinds of things kids wondered about but couldn’t ask anybody, and Mr. Rogers was not afraid to talk about it. He treated children as intelligent beings — who asked insightful questions and were bursting with curiosity about the world.
And he handed us a tool to talk about these things: the Land of Make Believe.
There’s a quote floating around the internet by Ursula K. Le Guin, “The creative adult being the child who survived after the world tried killing them by making them grow up.” Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood showed us that even adults can go to the Land of Make Believe if they want, and that you don’t have to stop playing just because you grew up.
Looking back as an adult and an artist, this mindset totally changed me. Yes, we all have our roles in the real world — the mailman, the police officer, the mayor, the handyman, the chef — but any of them would make appearances right alongside King Friday, Prince Tuesday, Daniel Tiger or Lady Elaine Fairchilde. Each of those adults were willing to play.
Children learn by watching. So many of us who grew up watching this show have a chance to really remember this lesson: to tap into our childhood artist now that we’re adults. This is part of what got me interested in theatre - one big Land of Make Believe - because I knew there were people out there who shared stories, tackle difficult topics, put on a play, write little stories — and do it all by playing with puppets, wearing comfy loafers and a zip-up sweater. Anything is possible if we just believe.
Playing pretend is how all artists flourish, even if they don’t know it. A singer taps into their own voice. A painter places their own hand on a landscape. A playwright imagines a conversation. A chef experiments with flavors that may be crazy. Every single artist, craftsperson, and creative out there is out there, letting their inner child experiment and try and explore their own Land of Make Believe. How they translate that comes out in their craft: but we all have the capacity to tap into that creative power and use it to solve our problems, heal ourselves, and love each other.
My challenge to you: How can you tap into your inner child today?
That’s not to say you have to play with puppets or even do an art project. But how can you show yourself kindness? How can you nurture that child you grew out of, who lives in you, who loves you, and is so proud of how far you have come? You could write a letter to that child, who lay on the floor watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood singing along to the theme song all those years ago — what would you like to say? Would you offer them a chance to express themselves through whatever creative whim they have?
And once you get that far, you can connect with your inner child and share it with the world. Are you feeling brave? Do you forgive yourself and love yourself and trust yourself enough to know that your message is important, even if it’s silly? Because it will be silly. You might even feel stupid doing it. You may get depressed, you may be ashamed, you may be afraid. All of these are conquerable feelings. Like waves, you must let them come, and through art, you can let them go.
But Mr. Rogers did. He did silly voices, yes, but he also made sure to show himself and others the power of kindness and art and imagination. And I think you can, too.
The show being on public television ensured every child who had access to a TV had access to his gentle and thoughtful messages. Because it was never about him making money. It was always about putting good things out into the world. And that, truly, is what the Free Art Campaign is about: tapping into our own Land of Make Believe, spreading our stories and connecting with others. Showing kindness. Learning Forgiveness. And ultimately just being the love we want to see in the world, just like Mr. Rogers.
Because it’s a neighborly day in the beautyhood — and won’t you be my neighbor?