Last month, the governor of Pennsylvania officially declared May 23 as 1-4-3 Day in honor of native son Fred Rogers. The designation was intended to encourage the state’s residents to “embrace the spirit of the kindest Pennsylvanian” by sharing acts of kindness with each other.
I grew up in Pennsylvania and loved Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood as a kid. Watching the trolley travel to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe is among my favorite childhood memories. I was mesmerized by Daniel Tiger, King Friday, and Lady Fairchilde. And I remember a cardigan-wearing Mr. Rogers telling Mr. McFeely “1-4-3.”
The number 143 held significance to Fred Rogers. It was code for “I love you,” a message he frequently delivered to his neighborhood friends. The numbers represent the amount of letters in each of the words (I=1, Love=4, You=3). May 23 was chosen as the date to honor the children’s television personality because it’s the 143rd day of the year.
Mr. Rogers was kind. He embodied many of the qualities of a good teammate. Commemorating his legacy with a day dedicated to kindness is fitting.
Sometimes I come across schools and other organizations who try to improve their culture by encouraging random acts of kindness. They hold “R.A.K. Day” or “R.A.K. Week.” I cringe whenever they use these terms. I understand what they’re trying to accomplish, and I applaud their intentions. But I wish they would stop attaching the word “random” to their events because there should be nothing random about kindness.
Attaching the word random implies that the acts are done without reason. It suggests a lack of purpose and consistency. Mr. Rogers wasn’t randomly kind; he was consistently kind. His kindness was filled with purpose, and yours should be to.
Good teammates choose kindness for a reason—to help their team. They’re merciful, generous, and friendly towards their teammates in order to help their team achieve harmony, which leads to success. They don’t help their team some of the time; they help their team all of the time.
Good teammates are not random. They are consistently purposeful.
If you’re trying to encourage kindness at your school, in your organization, or on your team, eliminate the randomness that may be attached to your event. Instead of having a “R.A.K. Day,” consider having a “P.A.K. Day” and celebrate purposeful acts of kindness.
That simple alteration will produce heightened levels of kindness and precisely the sort of shift in culture you desire. Before you know it, your culture will be packed with kindness.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
