The space between ...
Got up Thanksgiving morning, and promptly went downstairs.
Wasn’t allowed anywhere near the kitchen.
For a long list of reasons, including but not limited to the inverse proportion of my competence and my capacity to make messes.
It’s OK. I’m content to let the professionals handle things.
Emma had been texting us from college for weeks, telling us how much she was looking forward to “Emsgiving.”
Might be her favorite holiday.
Because she gets to spend a good part of it making and baking in the kitchen.
And ever since she went away to college, her older brother has made it his mission to learn how to make delicious food.
After almost 20 years, they finally have something in common to bond over.
Wasn’t sure we’d ever get there.
Worth the wait, tho.
In order for them to practice their Thanksgiving sorcery, I was banished (sentenced? relegated? quarantined?) to what we call the game room downstairs. In actuality it’s just the small room off the garage where my desk lives, and where most of our shoes end up.
I cracked open my old laptop. How old? Years removed from being able to accept OS updates. Keys still work, tho.
Youtube was up from the last time I’d opened it.
Along the side … the algorithm thought I might be interested in some interviews Mr. Rogers gave to Charlie Rose 30 some years ago.
Knows me well.
I open one where Charlie’s asking Mr. Rogers to describe what his recently published book was about.
Mr. Rogers laundry lists a couple things before he says …
“It’s about the white spaces between the paragraphs, which I think are more important than any of the text. Because it allows you to think about what’s just been said.”
Wait, what?
Whoa.
Then Mr. Rogers recalls something one of his old professors once told him.
“He said … ’You know Fred, there is one thing that evil cannot stand. And that is forgiveness.’”
Fred tells Charlie he can find the passage on page 20 or 22.
“And you notice, the rest of the page is blank.
“It needs a lot of time to think about that.”
Couple minutes later, Mr. Rogers, as deliberate and gentle in talking to the dignified Charlie Rose and his interview suit as if he was talking to a child, says in genuine exasperation …
“Oh my, this is a noisy world.”
If that don’t make you spit take your 2024 Thanksgiving morning coffee.
Went on to say how very concerned he was that our society is more interested in information than in wonder.
“How do we encourage reflection?” he asked Charlie rhetorically.
Mr. Rogers dedicated a big part of his life to creating sacred space for reflection, for himself and for the Neighborhood.
You ever see any of his speeches?
Commencement speeches? Awards ceremonies? Acceptance speeches?
Look ‘em up if you haven’t.
Look ‘em up again if you have.
He pretty much made every one of them a thanksgiving.
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“I believe appreciation is a Holy thing,” Mr. Rogers told Charlie.
In his speeches, he would always (always) leave room … to present his audiences with what he called “a gift of silence.”
Remind his audiences that we just don’t get to be who we are without a little help from other people.
Invite his audience to think about those who loved them into being. Those who always wanted the best for them. Those who encouraged them.
Then he’d do a remarkable thing — he’d offer a moment of silence to his audience to reflect on those who supported them.
Don’t worry, he’d always say … I’ll watch the time.
And when the moment elapsed, he would said, “Whoever you’ve been thinking of, imagine how pleased they would be to know the difference you feel they’ve made in your life.”
Saw him do it once during an acceptance speech at the Emmy’s.
Took 10 precious seconds of network time to offer that gift.
Not sure network air has ever been so wisely invested before or since.
Had people wiping tears after those 10 seconds.
Just like the ones I was wiping listening to him talk to Charlie 30 some years ago.
Cutting through the noise of this world straight through the dusty screen of my old laptop to my desk in the room where most of our shoes end up.
A moment of reflection co-gifted to me by Karry and the kids putting our Thanksgiving together upstairs.
Three among hundreds who have loved me into being.
Who live in the white space between my paragraphs.
__
While I may rely on AI for the occasional Youtube reco, I don’t need it to sum up the present moment.
Can’t imagine it doing a better job than Mr. Rogers did 30 years ago.
Oh my, this is a noisy world.
I’m concerned we don’t spend enough time in wonder.
How do we encourage reflection?
We can start by giving ourselves a gift.
Of silence.
Take a minute … to think about those who loved you into being.
Who’ve encouraged you.
Who’ve always wanted the best for you.
Don’t worry … I’ll watch the time.
#ribetuchus
#microblog1
#thanksgiving
#mrrogers
#itsabeautifuldayintheneighborhood
Communications Coach - Career Consultant - Facilitator
1wNice
Global Marketing Director at AbbVie
1wLovely reflection and thoughtfulness with a magical deep breath included.
Sr. Director Marketing
1wLove this. Thanks Pete!
Your message hit home with me today - like every day you write. Thank you for being part of my journey.
VP, Account Director
2wIt is not surprising to me that your words and references to others whose words have moved you … continue to move others (myself included clearly). Maybe a podcast is next ? :) miss our chats and look forward to the next one whenever that may occur