We live in a world where we have to share responsibility. It is easy to say, “It is not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.” Then there are those who recognize the need and respond. I consider these people my
heroes.Fred Rogers
As a small child, I could hardly wait to watch my afternoon shows – “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “Sesame Street,” and “The Electric Company.” Years later, my mother would say she didn’t understand what was so appealing about Mr. Rogers. She thought he was boring. Oh, but I loved him. I loved his soothing voice and quiet demeanor. I loved the neat way he put away his work clothes and slipped into a cardigan and tennis shoes. I loved the repetition of the songs and the way he sang, “It’s you I like/Every part of you.” I especially loved the neighborhood of fantasy. What would that silly Lady Elaine be up to today?
A few years ago, Fred Rogers was experiencing something of a cultural revival. I saw the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” in the theater and realized how much his quiet example influenced my life and the lives of others.
When tragedy strikes, people often repeat his words to find a bit of light in a dark situation: “When I was a boy and saw scary things on the news, my mother always said to me, ‘Look for helpers. You will always find people who will help.'” I’m not sure if the second half of the quote is repeated as often, but it touches me even more: “To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and it is always a comfort to me to realize that There are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”
Julie A. Palm’s article, “Doing Good Together,” reminds me of one of the many reasons I love the sleep aid industry so much. Every time I get a press release highlighting a donation to someone in need or supporting an industry event to raise funds for important needs like cancer research or autism support, my heart swells. Yes, this world can be a tough place, but there are so many kind, generous people. I’d like to believe there are more helpers out there than we even realize.
To celebrate the good our industry does, I’d like to leave you with another quote from Fred Rogers: “If only you could feel how important you are in the lives of the people you meet; how important you can be to people you may not even dream of. With every encounter with another human being, you leave something of yourself behind.”
Carry on.