When I was a little girl, I watched a lot of TV.

Perhaps it was because my parents didn’t know what else to do with me, but I didn’t mind the entertainment. My days were filled with the adventurous, interesting likes of Arthur, Clifford, and none other than Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

I like to preach that TV and entertainment — in general, not just for kids — was so much better any time before 2010. Insanely better. By like, over a hundred fold. Shows these days cannot compare to the intelligence and sophistication that earlier ones had to offer.

One would like to argue that the shows are for children and, yes, technically they are. But what is there to stop us from watching as adults?

In the recent wake of the pandemic, anxiety had started to creep into my system. Feelings of paranoia and fear have slowly but surely spread throughout me, like a virus.

A virus, it is. The irony of it all.

To soothe the feelings of sadness, I turned to Mister Rogers who, with his soothing voice and elegance, reminded me the small but significant things about myself, and about life.

I can’t quite explain it, the happiness that watching him still brings. Such a pure, genuine soul he was, and I am so blessed to have been granted his company as a child. Without it, I would not know the impact and relief he would have on my well being today, nearly twenty years later.

Shows like Mister Rogers are timeless, and age like fine wine. His simple routines of putting on a casual cardigan to invite you into his home. Taking off his work shoes and lacing up his tennis shoes. Asking you to sit in silence as you enjoy things like watching fish swim, listening to the sound of the rain.

What guy on TV does that anymore? And let’s not forget, Fred had to make statements in court to let the program survive. He also wrote many of the songs and had a great amount of say in what he wanted the show to be. It wasn’t for the money or the fame. It was for the children, he would always say. And it really showed.

The book Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History offers a gorgeous visual journey of the TV series, and the man himself. A more underrated topic that I might get into later, is the impeccable fashion of Mister Rogers. Below is his signature uniform ensemble, something that we can all learn from in this present day.

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I encourage you today to sit through at least one episode. Any episode, although I much prefer the colored ones. Watch it with your phone put away. Watch it in the comfort of your bed, snuggled up under the covers. Watch it and listen. Watch it and enjoy it. Watch it and learn from it.

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