“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, a new release starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, is more than the sentimental journey the title implies. The beauty of the movie (no spoilers) shows how deeply Rogers understood humankind: He had an uncommon awareness of our common longing.
Fred Rogers understood that, from the time we are quite young, we have a need to connect and that connecting is not always easy to do; but he knew how and provided it to us. Rogers’ Neighborhood magic was that he was able to create connections between all who were part of that world. He showed us that it is possible to fulfill one of our greatest desires—connection—with those we love.
As I watched the movie, I found myself fascinated by the similarities between Mister Rogers’ use of a simple puppet, Daniel Striped Tiger, which he used to convey our yearnings to be understood, and my much more complicated project called ‘Sunspot’. Sunspot facilitates connection between astronauts while they are in space with their families left back on Earth—I’d like to give more details, and will, when the new idea is allowed out of the hangar and into the open, but for today, I am excited to say it uses a very unique approach. I discovered that close connection is all in the ‘how,’ and Rogers’ themes hold a lesson for all of us who long to care, trust, and connect.
First, Rogers believes that emotions are important and need to be appropriately expressed. Daniel Striped Tiger is Rogers’ instrument to convey emotions that feel real to him and that take courage for him (for us too) to openly express. Daniel expresses what is difficult for many of us to share and he takes the chance to say and be understood: To connect. In doing so, we see ourselves in him. As the movie shows, whatever our age, job, or role in this world, there is more to us than meets the eye.
Rogers knew that although our stories are unique, all living beings have much in common. His commencement address (Dartmouth College, 2002) shares this view:
“Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space. Every one of us is a part of that jewel. A facet of that jewel. And in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infinitesimal. We are intimately related. May we never pretend that we are not.”
Rogers found that his unassuming and thread-bare Tiger allows connectedness by asking questions, inviting participation, being vulnerable, and trusting that others will be careful to respect his feelings.
Similarly, Sunspot is being created to support astronauts’ connections with their families and friends through engaging and meaningful activities they share together. There are differences: Daniel is tangible; Sunspot is virtual. Daniel, the puppet on Roger’s hand, is actually an extension of Rogers’ soul and his belief in connecting with the very young of humankind via his TV show, which ran for 31 seasons and 895 episodes: a testament to the lasting value of connection.
Sunspot will feel real because Sunspot, to the astronaut and his or her family, is an extension too, of keeping their bond alive even though they are many hundreds of thousands of miles apart. Connection is critical with those who matter to us, love us, because they have helped to make us who we are, who believe in our worth, love, and abilities.
Rogers’ commencement address concluded with these thoughts from Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince:
“What is essential is invisible to the eye. Well, what is essential about you? And who are those who have helped you become the person you are? Anyone who has ever graduated from a college, anyone who has ever been able to sustain a good work, has had at least one person, and often many, who have believed in him or her. We don’t get to be competent human beings without a lot of different investments from others.”
Human connection is essential for our survival. How we establish and maintain that connection can often be challenging. If you go to see the movie, I think you might get a few new ideas from Rogers. Happy Holidays and may all your wishes come true. For this holiday season, take a moment to reflect on someone who believed in you and made a difference in your life.