Each week, on Give Back Thursday, we offer ideas for how you can give back, help others, and do good for the community. This week, in honor of 143 Day in PA, celebrated on the 143rd day of the year or May 22, 2020, we suggest spreading kindness and being a good neighbor.
Fred Rogers was everyone’s favorite neighbor. He brought kindness, compassion, and love into the homes of every child that watched his show. In Pennsylvania, we celebrate 143 Day in honor of Mister Rogers because of his love for the number. He regularly used 143 as his code for “I Love You” simply based on the number of letters that make up each of those words. On 143 Day in PA, we are encouraged to share acts of kindness and good deeds with one another. For ideas, go to 143day.dced.pa.gov where there is a kindness generator to help you find new ways to connect with the people in your community! You can submit your acts of kindness to help them track how far a little kindness can spread. There is even a 143 Day in PA Toolkit you can download to help spread the kindness movement.
We can think of no better way to give back to the community than to spread a little kindness. With all of the uncertainty in our world right now, being a good neighbor has never been more important. Whether you cut the grass for someone who is struggling to do so, show thanks for our healthcare workers, or you simply say a kind word to someone, just remember we are all neighbors in this world and there is no better day to be kind than today.
In the words of Mister Rogers, “So let’s make the most of this beautiful day, since we’re together we might as well say, would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please, won’t you please? Please won’t you be my neighbor?”
Everyone’s answer should be, YES! Let’s be his neighbor and spread kindness in his honor!