Garden of Your Mind
By now, I’m sure many of you have seen the PBS Digital Studios YouTube video with the Mister Rogers Remix.
I watched a lot of PBS as a child- Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, Reading Rainbow. As I watched the Mister Rogers remix video, I couldn’t help but wonder how much my TV viewing of educational programming for kids had to do with my curious nature and who I am as an inquisitive person today ( I am sure there has been numerous academic and medical studies done on this very topic).
Even as a kid I was always asking questions, taking on my own research projects, and trying to absorb and learn as much as possible. As an adult, the internet has made this quest for knowledge far easier and more far reaching/random. I definitely identify as a lifelong learner; hearing the Mister Rogers say you can grow ideas in the garden of your mind stuck with me and I wonder if I saw that episode as a child and finally had confirmation that being curious was good and learning was cool. My parents always helped me in answering questions and bringing me to the library, museums, etc. but they were smart cookies for putting the TV on for Mister Rogers and Reading Rainbow because I definitely think they helped inspire my love of knowledge and wanting to know more.
Life By Kristen 
We didn’t have Mister Rogers up here when I was a kid.
We had Mr. Dress-Up. He was awesome.