You’d be forgiven if you’ve spent the last, on, 15 months (or longer) in a constant state of anxiety. Certainly in 2021, it’s easy to forgot there is just as much to celebrate about life as to lament. Probably even more! Maybe. But remembering that—and striving to be a positive force in the world yourself—might require you to reconfigure the lenses through which you view the people around you.
As usual, the legacy of Mr. Rogers is here to help. In Pennsylvania, today is 143 Day—the 143rd day of the year; 143 was Mr. Rogers favorite number, his lifelong adult weight, and his special code for telling others “I love you.” The day is intended to honor the beloved children’s TV host’s most vital, simple of challenges: “Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person.” If we’re all a little kinder to one another, the world really will be a better place—there’s even science to back that up.
That’s all well and good, but how can you get inspired to greet each day like Mr. Rogers? Maybe you just need to live by example. What follows are 21 movies and TV series that show you the importance of moving through life with kindness and compassion for others in all that you do. Granted, it’s a high fucking bar, but I believe you can do it, and die trying. (And because we need all the help we can get, share your own picks in the comments—sans the usual listicle outrage, please; remember, kindness matters.)