Skip to main content

Just the Way You Are

In this episode - Just the Way You Are . . .

“Childhood lies at the very heart of who we are and who we become.” Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers)

What are you feeling this New Year 2021? Who are you? Do you feel hopeful, joyful, optimistic, or with the recent news events are you cynical, feeling scared, and ill-prepared for what’s to come?”

That’s OK, “I like you just the way you are.” - Mr. Rogers

“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor . . .”

I’ll admit in 1969 whenever I heard that song I would jump up from the couch and change the channel on the television. In my kid world, there were more important things to watch on television . . . Batman, Superman, Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeannie, Bonanza, The Rifleman, to name a few.

Watch Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, that’s a little kids show - “No way, I’m too old for that.” Huh, was I really?

However, until recently, while recording poems and stories for this Podcast I began to wonder, “What type of stories DO children like?”

Honestly, not having raised children myself, I had no idea. 

Stories in this turbulent world we live in are confusing to adults. I can only imagine what little children think. And how they are affected.

For example, “Breaking News” . . . the COVID pandemic has taken over 372,000 lives, protests continue to divide our nation. The President is lying. It’s everywhere, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and of course television. The most powerful influencer.

Sadly, people only share stories of friends, classmates, and family that have died. Why? That’s demoralizing. And after the continued bombardment of such news, you simply lose any empathy (callused) you may have felt for those stories.

How do little children respond to all this? I’m sure they are scared and confused. Just as I was watching and listening to TV actors from the 1960s like Boris Karloff in the roles they portrayed.

So, I asked a neighbor, “What do your kids like, what do read to them?” To my amazement, this young family's favorite children's story on video was - “The Grinch.”

My first thought was . . . really? The Grinch? What a scary story. As a young child, the Grinch was a television animated feature that always frightened me. Why? Because of the terrifying voice of Boris Karloff. What a frighting man he was. He sounded evil.

You see, books were not something we had growing up. It was the profound impact of television that shaped my fears, my dreams, and my values.

Through Mr. Rogers though we learned that - “Feelings are our shared common ground.” When a loving parent or neighbor reads aloud to children, stories transport these children to the land of make-believe. This in turn creates a loving bond between the parent and their children.

We had never read the Dr. Seuss book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. So, I did what I thought best, bought the book and began reading it into the microphone.

You may have heard the Podcast episode - The Grinch. 

Oh, what fun we had. It was pure delight, the fun of pretending to read to your child. The story was not scary at all. I discovered it was a story of redemption, hope, and pure joy!

So, as we move into this New Year I’m asking, “Please,  won’t you be my neighbor?” Let’s share the stories that have made a difference in your life for the better.

You will feel better, just the way you are.

If you enjoy our weekly visits, please share them with a friend.

This is Patrick Ball, thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
C6-5
January 9, 2021 at 12:14 PM
Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Sunflowers, French Steel, and the Yellow Jersey

Watching Le Tour de France this year, I found myself transported back to August 1983 as the Peloton in Stage 10, Bastille Day, flowed through the French countryside like a brightly colored ribbon. I was in my twenties, visiting family in the Charente-Maritime region of France, completely obsessed with bicycle racing—and convinced I was much stronger than I was. My connection to cycling—and to France—runs deep. I was born in France, and my very first real road bike, at age fifteen, was a Mercier . To me, it wasn’t just a bicycle; it was a work of art made from beautiful French steel. I rode that bike for miles, through high school, into college, and until the day someone decided they needed it more than I did. I hope they at least appreciated the craftsmanship. Its untimely disappearance led me to a Schwinn Voyageur, and later, when I started racing around Illinois, to a Raleigh Competition . But during that summer of ’83, while staying with my Uncle Jean Paul in Lagord, just north of L...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Big Rip and the First Tee

The telescope (Celestron) sits quietly under its cover, temporarily blinded by Southern California's annual meteorological hostage situation – June Gloom. Somewhere above that thick gray ceiling, photons that began their journey before humans appeared are streaming across the cosmos, only to be intercepted by a marine layer that seems to have veto power over astronomy. Instead of observing the universe, I find myself imagining – The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by physicist Katie Mack. According to modern cosmology, the universe may eventually end in a Big Rip, a Big Crunch, Heat Death, Vacuum Decay, or some other catastrophe that sounds suspiciously like a rejected heavy-metal album title. Astrophysicists spend their careers calmly discussing the possibility that reality itself could suddenly cease to exist because a quantum field had a bad day. It's a remarkable way to start a Saturday morning. One moment you're contemplating the ultimate fate of spacetime...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Places You'll Go . . .

Well, the time has arrived. Yes, July's drawing near, And somehow I've managed to last seven years! I've analyzed forecasts and studied the trends, While spreadsheets multiplied without seeming to end. We've planned for the sunshine, the storms, and the load, while Mother Nature kept changing the code. But through all the numbers, the forecasts, and charts, the best part of Cenergy's always been hearts. The people beside me, year after year, Made even the toughest challenges clear. To the bright, talented folks reading this today, The future is yours now—you're well on your way. And unlike my era, here's the key: You’ll work with AI just as smooth as can be. The reports that took hours may take only minutes. The models you build with intelligence in it. The data will flow faster than ever before, While AI handles tasks that are mostly a bore! But here's my advice as I head out the door: Technology changes, but people matter more. AI can predict, calcula...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rediscovering the Magic of Summer . . .

Summer mornings, especially on a holiday weekend, have a special magic. The air is cool, the world quiet, and the day full of possibilities. This July 4th weekend, Lori and I decided to capture a bit of that magic by beating the holiday traffic with an early morning bicycle ride. We went through our usual pre-flight checklist: Stretched out the morning stiffness. Filled the water bottles. Strapped on the helmets. Checked the tires. Three tires passed inspection. The fourth had apparently declared independence. The rear tire on my e-bike was flatter than a Kansas highway. “Well, it looks like we’re not riding today,” Lori said, with the calm acceptance of someone who had already mentally promoted coffee to the day’s main event. “Why not?” I replied. “I’ll ride my old bike.” She gave me that look —the one that safely translates as, "Are you sure about this? " “Absolutely,” I said. “Why not?” I dragged the bike stand out and surveyed my options. One glance at the aggressive gear...
Post a Comment
Read more