"When I walk outside the studio and a child comes up

and gives me a hug… I know that is the field I want to be growing in.

It’s not the fancy people in this world who seem to nourish my soul- I want

to learn how to be the best receiver that I can ever be

because I think graceful receiving is one of the most wonderful gifts we can

give anybody. If we receive what somebody gives us in a graceful way

we've given that person a wonderful gift”

-Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers was a man of fine sensibilities and truly an enlightened being. If you have not seen the movie, "A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood," I highly recommend it. 

The above photo was taken of my granddaughter, Starling at age four. I was visiting my son and grandchildren in S. Dakota for Thanksgiving. I have the best memory of that particular day. We were going to the neighborhood park. As we strolled along towards the playground, we encountered a young couple and their small child in a pram. Starling immediately started a conversation, "Hello" followed by, "Can I tell you something?" They responded in the affirmative in a charming English accent, a clue that they were not from around there. They listened with an air of surprise as Starling shared the glorious wonder of her wide-open heart. She expounded on all sorts of interesting little thoughts in a free flowing a stream of consciousness. 

After five minutes or so of her light-hearted, sing song chirping, we bid our goodbyes. Then Starling enthusiastically told me how she had just made a new best friend (the baby girl in the carriage). It was like that on the playground too or wherever we went because every person Starling met became "a new best friend." It was such an enchanting, carefree age of enlightenment and a beautiful gift to receive.

Liz Sorensen Wessel