A Lesson From Mister Rogers

A precious reminder from the best world ever

I grew up with Mister Rogers. Every day after school, he could be found on the public television station. Watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was like being in a safe, happy place. His “world” was fun to escape to for thirty minutes each day. He talked about feelings. How to express them — through his rich characters and the stories he created for them and the discussions. He created a safe space before anyone even knew what that was.

And the visits he brought the viewers on were always so fun — and unexpected. He literally brought us on field trips. As soon as Mister Rogers put that sweater on — it was a wonderful day in the neighborhood.

He had this calming way about his voice. While he would be doing one thing, he could be talking about something like anger or losing at a sport or grief. He reinforced positive concepts like sharing and love and being a good neighbor. The songs still resonate in my mind — especially, Won’t You be my Neighbor?

Growing up watching him on television, it felt poignant “Fred” Mister Rogers was the commencement speaker at my college graduation (Hobart and William Smith, 1985).

I remember his speech. I remember the piano being rolled out. There was Mister Rogers on the stage speaking to us — the way he did when we were little on TV, but this time in person, setting us free into the world as young adults to make our mark. I couldn’t have asked for a better representative to launch me out into the world metaphorically. My appreciation for my school, on the last day there suddenly skyrocketed.

There is one part of the speech that I would like to share here because we can all use some genuine Mister Rogers right now. As he said, there are no two people that are the same — every person is unique (I’m paraphrasing). In his speech introducing a song, Mister Rogers said,

You know it was written for little children, but there are things about it, I think, that can apply to us all. It’s called “You’ve Got to Do It.”

The song is called You’ve Got to Do it — but he modified it for our graduation. Here is that section of Mister Rogers’s commencement speech to the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Class of 1985. I still get teary.

I have, through the years, written a barrelful of songs.

In fact, the barrel’s overflowing now. One of them speaks to just what we’ve been talking about, since our superb musical director and pianist, John Costa, is with us today, I’d like to give you that song right now. You know it was written for little children, but there are things about it, I think, that can apply to us all. It’s called “You’ve Got to Do It.”

You can make — believe it happens,

Or pretend that something’s true.

You can wish or hope or contemplate

A thing you’d like to do.

But until you start to do it,

You will never see it through,

’Cause the make-believe

Pretending just won’t do it for you.

Chorus

You’ve got to do it.

Every little bit,

You’ve got to do it,

Do it, do it, do it.

And when you’re through,

You can know you did it,

For you did it, you did it,

You did it.

If you want to ride a bicycle

And ride it straight and tall,

You can’t simply sit and look at it

’Cause it won’t move at all.

But it’s you who have to try it

And it’s you who have to fall (sometimes).

If you want to ride a bicycle

And ride it straight and tall.

Chorus

If you want to wear a cap and gown

And get your B.A. too,

You can’t simply sleep the whole long day

And party all night through.

’Cause it’s you who have to study.

Yes, it’s you no one else but you,

If you want to wear a cap and gown

And get your B.S. too.

Chorus

It’s not easy to keep trying

But it’s one good way to grow.

It’s not easy to keep learning,

But I know that this is so.

When you’ve tried and learned

You’re bigger then you were a day ago.

It’s not easy to keep trying,

But it’s one way to grow.

Chorus

To me, this was a reminder that the world is always changing — whether we choose to or not. We are always evolving. We might as well embrace it.

This day will never come again. Keep trying. Keep growing. Keep learning. Seize your moments. In the words of the late, great Mister Rogers —

You’ve Got to Do it!

Jennifer Friebely is a New York-based writer, editor, coach, and speaker covering stories from personal development, bully bosses, the Law of Attraction, marketing, and productivity to politics and music to whatever idea strikes. She has a 30+ year background in marketing and advertising and holds a BA in Political Science. Email her at [email protected] or visit www.successpicture.com.