In times of tragedy, we look to teachers for guidance and hope. I can think of no better teacher than Fred McFeely Rogers, better known to us as Mister Rogers--our friendly neighbor--for his gentle wisdom on children, humility, grief, and the specialness of every person. Many of these quotations are collected in the posthumous volume The World According to Mister Rogers, though they come from various sources, including his many television appearances.1. On Heroes Without Capes"When I was very... READ ON

M. Alice LeGrow is a professional party princess. It wasn't a job she expected -- she was a graphic novelist until a few years ago, when her publisher went out of business. Seeking a steady job, she took on the job of entertaining kids at parties. In this short documentary by NPR, we learn LeGrow's perspective on the job -- what's challenging about it, how she has learned to like kids, and indeed how she has learned to like the job. Pro tip: "When in doubt, smile harder!" Princess Marty, The Party... READ ON

While this question may seem trite, it is truly valuable if we actually consider it: what would you like to do every day, if money were no object? What do you value and enjoy, absent issues of money? In this short video, philosopher and writer Alan Watts is quoted, matched with inspirational footage. This is worth watching and listening to. My favorite part (emphasis added): When we finally got down to something, which the individual says he really wants to do, I will say to him, you do that and... READ ON

In this decidedly spooky TED Talk, Jon Ronson explains his journey to understand mental illness, which brought him to a prison for the criminally insane to interview a very sanely-dressed possible psychopath, then brought him to "Chainsaw Al" Dunlap, whose house was "like Narnia." The whole thing is engaging, challenging, and makes me really want to take the test. Bonus points if you get the reference on Ronson's tee shirt without Googling it. This is all discussed in more depth in Ronson's book... READ ON