Fred Rogers, lovingly known to most of us as Mr. Rogers, is famous for his soothing demeanor and his ability to captivate children with curiosity and kindness. His show, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, which lived on PBS for a whopping 30 years, markedly focused on creating lessons of love and friendship for his young watchers to learn from.
The television host often told a story about how his mother would comfort him when he was a child and witnessed or became aware of something scary happening in the world around him. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
While this particular quote has come under some scrutiny for taking advice meant for a child and turning into a meme for adults on social media, this writer feels that at its essence, its point is still legitimate.
In the past day, year, years, decade, we've witnessed chaos in our country and around the globe that, if we're paying attention, should not only frighten children, but should leave all of us, adults included, visibly shaken. Many of us are scared and questioning what will happen next and how it will affect us in our own lives. And each of us knows that in the event that the chaos reaches our doorstep, we will need help of some kind.
If we become sick, how will we pay for it? If our homes or our cars are damaged, will we be able to replace the damage? If our already vulnerable businesses are affected beyond that point of recovery that we know is out there, what will we do?
Well, my friends... this is where you come in. Because you are the helpers.
You are there to answer the questions that threaten your client's livelihoods. Their families are at stake. Everything they've worked for at stake. They come to you for protection and security in the event of chaos in their own lives and you are there to assist them if and when it arrives at their doorstep.
Whether the quote is now being used as an example textbook pandering or not, the sentiment will always be the same. When we are lost and we look up, the first thing we long for is help. Someone who can lead us to safety. If that safety comes in the form of a hospital bill paid, an accident claim approved or the peace of mind attached to securing a policy that tells you your home will be protected from an oncoming natural disaster, YOU ARE THE HELPER.
While so much else is at stake for each of us in any given moment, and you feel like you're being swept up in the wave of uncertainty that always exists out on the horizon, remember that you are someone's beacon. You are someone's point person for solace. You are the helper.