This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus.
Watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, growing up near the birthplace of Fred Rogers, and then attending Saint Vincent College really leaves its mark on a girl. It has led me to times of reflection in which I ask myself, “What would Fred Rogers do?” Indisputably, Fred Rogers has the answer to absolutely any issue I may be facing. Here are some quotes I use to guide me through my WWFRD moments, and I hope they’re beneficial to you as well.
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Even as adults, we need to find the people helping in the scary world we live in today. For every sexual assailant, rapist, and murderer on the news, there are thousands upon thousands of people volunteering to help victims of these crimes and speaking for those who are unable. You may not always see them in the media, but they’re there. The world will always look frightening if you judge it based on only the news.
Even more importantly, we need to start stepping up and being the helpers. We cannot stand back and be separate from tragedies that occur in our own backyards. Somewhere out there, a terrified young child is watching the news. Channel your inner Fred Rogers. Be the helper that the child finds comfort in seeing.
If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.
As I write this article, I am 1 out of 7,656,300,594 people on the Earth. I am 1 out of 3,294 people in my hometown. And I am 1 out of 1,666 enrolled at my college. It is very easy to feel small and irrelevant. Truthfully, even though I try hard not to, and I preach self-love, I allow myself to feel unimportant much more than I am comfortable admitting. When this happens, it is important to take a step back and see all the people who love you. Then, you must take a leap back and see all the people you’ve had a positive impact on. The number of people who you have left your mark on is astounding, and their lives would be different had you never crossed their path. Now, think of all the people you haven’t crossed paths with and haven’t affected yet. You are unbelievably important and will continue to be even when you don’t feel that way.
The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.
Imagine a world where everyone has a sense of worth. Is that world attainable? Maybe, maybe not. But we are not going to get any closer to that world existing if you question your worth and live with a never-ending sense of self-doubt. It is just as important to value yourself as it is to value others. How can we ever spread love without first loving ourselves? Remind yourself daily of your worth. If not for yourself, do it for your world-wide community.
There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.
We would all like to live lives without any pain or suffering. This, however, is simply an unattainable fantasy. I can almost guarantee you will never meet an adult who has not suffered in some way, shape, or form. We will all experience pain, both excruciatingly so and not, before our lives end. Although these moments will never be pleasant or pleasing, remember that these experiences are the driving force behind our development as human beings. Without undergoing pain, we would not know or appreciate the feelings of joy. We would remain static characters in our own lives; we would never move neither forward nor back. Although it may be impossible to think it in the moment, know that you would not be you without your pain.
There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.
Success is too often measured in degrees and dollar signs. According to Fred Rogers, this should not be the case. The ultimate success is creating a life that is driven by kind acts and giving not six figure salaries and lavish lifestyles. I believe that it is important to work to be more like Fred Rogers than Donald Trump. In the end, it is kindness that perfects the world, not money and power.
One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation.
I’m going to assume that everyone reading this article is an adult or is planning to be an adult at some point or another. As we grow, we must remember that we are not the center of the universe, and our actions will not only affect us, but future generations as well. Decisions your generation makes now will have lasting effects on children you won’t even be alive to see. With this in mind, we must create a better world by remembering the consequences, both positive and negative, of our actions. Soon, different generations will begin taking positions of power in government, corporations, and schools. Each generation must ask, “What mark do we want to make on the world?” Leave this world better than it was when you found it. The next person will thank you.
Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.
Alas, you have reached the end of this article. Now that you’re at the end of my mind-child, you are at the beginning of something else. It is time to stew on the wonderful words of Fred Rogers and turn his words into actions.
And always remember…
HCXO,
Gina