Lauren Novak

Do you remember watching Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood on television? Mr. Rogers taught us life lessons for 31 seasons. The show premiered in 1968 and those lessons from back in the day are just as important now. His patient demeanor and soft voice made him an icon for both children and adults. Here are some of the most important lessons we learned from Mr. Rogers himself. 1. Conflict is okay via GIPHY Many of us shy away from conflict, but conflict is natural, especially when you bring many different types of people together. Mr. Rogers often used his puppets in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe to show how you can peacefully come to conclusions about many different kinds of conflicts. 2. People with different beliefs can live peacefully in the same area via GIPHY Speaking of that neighborhood of puppets, King Friday was often the character who had strong beliefs and fears and would shake up the neighborhood. Mr. Rogers taught us that we can try to understand where the other person is coming from and resolve problems peacefully. 3. It is okay to be you and you should remind others of that too via GIPHY Mr. Rogers always closed out the show with some positive thinking. He often said, "I like you as you are." With the world always trying to change us, it is a great reminder. Make sure you remind your children, grandchildren, and friends of this often. 4. Love your neighbor and yourself via GIPHY Mr. Rogers actually was once a Presbyterian minister, but he didn't teach religion on his show. Instead, he took some of the basic principles and taught those. One of the most important was to love your neighbors and to love yourself. 5. Listen to others via GIPHY In a world where most people are thinking about what they want to say next instead of listening, Mr. Rogers taught us to be good listeners. He encouraged his viewers to try to truly understand what someone else is saying. He also taught us to try to understand the other person instead of jumping in and arguing. Many of us could use this lesson today. Read on for more very important life lessons! 6. If you want respect, you have to give it via GIPHY Treating everyone with respect seems like an elementary concept, but we often need a reminder. When the show first started, there was still segregation. At the time, black people were not often allowed to swim in the same pools as white people. Mr. Rogers had Officer Clemens, a regular on the show played by African-American actor Francois Scarborough Clemmons, put his feet in a kiddie pool with him. This was big in those times. Do you remember this scene? 7. Always help others via GIPHY There is a famous Mr. Rogers quote that gets passed around in times of crisis. “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,’” said Mr. Rogers. It is a reminder to not only be a helper but to look for other helpers in times of need. He also often reminded audiences to remember a person who has really helped you and truly thank them for that. 8. Discuss the tough stuff via GIPHY Mr. Roger's show returned after a brief hiatus in the 1980s and he tackled issues that were tough for kids to discuss. Issues like divorce and death were hard for parents to talk to kids about, but Mr. Rogers helped to open up these lines of communication. He taught us to not be afraid to tackle these issues that you really need to discuss. 9. Build up other's confidence via GIPHY He always taught us to instill confidence in others instead of criticizing them for things they couldn't change. 10. Accept mistakes via GIPHY Everyone makes mistakes. Mr. Rogers taught us to expect and accept mistakes. Don't be so hard on yourself and others. We truly lost a gem when we lost Mr. Rogers in 2003. His life lessons still live on and will hopefully be taught for many years to come. Do you remember the theme song on the show? Check out the video below to relive those memories! Please SHARE this article if you love the teachings of Mr. Rogers and think everyone needs these reminders!