203) I Watched A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Tom Hanks plays Mister Rogers.

The movie is about an angry journalist being assigned to interview Mister Rogers. And he has to write an article about him.

I remembered Mister Rogers when I was growing up. But I didn't enjoy watching him. I viewed it as a corny, cheesy show. Because I didn't understand what Mister Rogers was explaining.

Before I watched Tom Hanks play Mister Rogers in movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, I read more about the life of Mister Rogers through Wikipedia.

He hosted the preschool TV series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, from 1968-2001. Mister Rogers passed away in 2003 due to a stomach cancer. 

Watching the movie made me understand who Mister Rogers was as a person on and off the camera. He was still himself.

Mister Rogers showed empathy and compassion around others. His motive was to service others, especially children, through his kindness.

The movie is about an angry journalist being assigned to interview Mister Rogers. And he has to write an article about him.

I remembered Mister Rogers when I was growing up. But I didn't enjoy watching him. I viewed it as a corny, cheesy show. Because I didn't understand what Mister Rogers was explaining.

Before I watched Tom Hanks play Mister Rogers in movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, I read more about the life of Mister Rogers through Wikipedia.

He hosted the preschool TV series, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, from 1968-2001. Mister Rogers passed away in 2003 due to a stomach cancer. 

Watching the movie made me understand who Mister Rogers was as a person on and off the camera. He was still himself.

Mister Rogers showed empathy and compassion around others. His motive was to service others, especially children, through his kindness.

His way of lecturing others was to share stories about himself and others through his TV series.

My younger-self would give lectures to others. I thought I knew everything.

I share stories and give examples to others. I encourage others too. 

​Mister Rogers learned from others by asking them questions.

My younger-self would never ask questions to others. Because my mind was thinking about what to say next. I would only listen to a talkative person.

I ask and listen.

Mister Rogers would understand others through his patience.

He didn't want to be called a "celebrity."

​He was focused on his motive. He didn't want to be perfect.

For instance, Mister Rogers was struggling to install a tent during a scene in the movie. His camera crew insisted to have it pre-installed. Mister Rogers wanted the audience to see adults don't always go according to plan. They make mistakes too.

​My younger-self would assume my parents or any elder knew everything.

The movie was meaningful and powerful. It made me cry. Watch the movie.

I won't spoil it for you.

​The movie reminded me to continue to be kind to others. Don't expect anything in return.

Try to be at peace during an argument or disagreement.

For instance, it's a difficult challenge to understand a person who has suffered from an emotional and psychological trauma. He doesn't like to be told.

He wanted to hide a gun in home. Because he believed someone will come after him. He has been binge watching Forensic Files on Netflix.

I continued to ask and listen.

Then I stopped understanding him.

For instance, in a respectful way, I was telling him I saw you gunpoint at someone by accident. Because anger took over the mind.

He believed I was accusing him as a bad person. He started yelling and swearing at me.

I apologized to him. I cried at his anger and temper while I looked at his sharp eyes. I attempted to give him a hug. I told him I love you.

He couldn't take it. He was agitated.

Then I expressed my gratitude to him.

His anger and temper started to fade.

I have to keep reminding myself the best way to talk to him is to remain silent. Continue to understand him.

I don't accuse him as a bad person.

I've made mistakes too. (This was my mistake for not believing him to have a gun hidden in home.) I can't completely stop myself from making mistakes until the day I die. 

"I'm not mad at you," he told me the next day. He explained to me he chooses to walk away from an argument or disagreement. Again continue to understand him.

I try to become a better person every day.

For instance, Leon Logothetis known as "The Kindness Guy," in his documentary TV series, The Kindness Diaries, on Netflix.

"How do you define kindness?" Dave Asprey asks Logothetis in his Bulletproof Radio podcast episode, How to Show Up With Compassion and Kindness.

"Do you know a lot of people always come up to me. And they say, 'You're the kindness guy. You tell me what kindness means.' And they expect to have this like epic answer that solves all world problems," Logothetis answers. "But the truth is, for me, kindness is simply helping someone feel less alone. That's it."

He continues:  "When you make someone feel like that they matter. When you see someone. When you take someone's loneliness and depression. And transform it by simply being kind. That's quite a profound way to be." 

I'm not here to play games with you. I'm not here to compare or judge you. I'm not here to be better than you. I'm not here to fight you. I'm at peace. Call me a coward. It's okay. I'm here to understand you. I'm here to be kind to you. It's the only way.