Wow! It is a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

So, I have spent the last year and a half pursuing a dream to bring healing to leaders struggling to optimize their potential because of fractured and broken relationships. This journey has been long and some days, like today, I wonder how I am going to keep making ends meet. I believe in my work, I believe in the need, but some days are just harder than others.

However, I was given an assignment this morning by one of my best friends, who is one of  my coaches and happens to be my brother, Robert. He said, “1:20 pm. Go see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” In case you haven’t been yet, I will do my best not to spoil it, but let me just say it is worth every moment.

From the opening to the closing credits this movie brings a little peace and life into the world of the viewer. In tender, calm Mr. Rogers’ fashion, the story takes you through a story of ups and downs, heart-ache and joy. Most of all it repeats the messages that Fred Rogers was so good at communicating, people are the only thing that matters. Not broken people, or different people, or even heroic people, just people extraordinary, unique, everyone is new people.

The directing and acting allow you to enjoy the moments of deep contemplation along with the light and funny things that happened as well. Very well done.

But what lessons did I take from it?

Again without spoiling the plot line I will share a few:

No one is as important as the person in front of you right now.

Slow down. Especially in today’s world that runs at breakneck speeds, take a little more time with the people you have time with. That person or few people should consume your now. Don’t rush past anyone, especially children. The world will go on without you, but you might be more changed by this moment than by any other, so give yourself time to live in this one.

Ask more questions?

I spend a lot of time with coaches, and in the coaching world, and a good coach is good at questions, but even more so, good people are good at questions. Instead of rushing to offer answers, slow down to understand the person who is looking for answers. I was recently asked by a friend who had attended several different events in which I was speaking, and he said, “I need to get some time with you where you don’t rock my world.” My hopeful response was “I’m not sure I can do that.”

After seeing this movie, I’m not sure I want to. Taking time to hear the needs in the hearts of others will always be a soul rocking experience. I want to be like that. I want to help people take a moment to realize the importance of their own place in the world. 

The choices we make will shape the legacy we leave.

Fred Rogers was not a perfect man. He was just a man, but he chose day in and day out to consider others ahead of himself, to find ways to express his anger that didn’t hurt anyone or bring more pain into the world. He looked for ways to bring hope and healing to every facet of society. Isn’t that what changes the world?

As you look at the world around you, the difference you make will not be because of your personality or accomplishments, but because of the choices you make to make some else’s day great.

If we could all learn to make choices to be vulnerable, to be aware of others, to create a safe space, to bring truth with love, to choose forgiveness, and strive for integrity, not because it will make us successful, but because we care about others more than ourselves, well then every day would be a beautiful day in our neighborhood.