Tom Hanks portrays Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. This is a timely story of kindness over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and the journalist Tom Junod.
Until Junod met Mr. Rogers, Junod was very cynical. In addition, he had a very bitter relationship with his father. This next sentence is somewhat conjecture, but unless Junod turned around psychologically, I worried that he had borderline relationships with his boss, his wife, and dispassionate feelings toward his baby son.
Fortunately, because of the incredible kindness and empathy of Mr. Rogers, Junod reconciled with his father and dealt effectively with his inner demons. Junod recognized that his hostile relationships were in large part a function of his inner anger.
As the movie progressed, I began to dwell on my own feelings. Fortunately, living in Sarasota and enjoying retirement, has provided a needed respite from my anxieties. In particular, surviving, and possibly succeeding on Wall Street, took its toll on me. While I never succumbed to the bitterness and petty meanness of my Wall Street colleagues, living in Sarasota has healed me. That is, I know that I am much more at peace with myself now than at any time since I left Texas.
As a consequence of suffering from depression about 20 years ago, I learned that friendships and activity was my best antidote against melancholy. Fortunately, through the efforts of my late wife, Eloise, I have developed the skill sets needed to meet life’s challenges.
While this essay is certainly more than a movie review, I do hope that all of you see it.
