You don’t have to look far these days to find evidence that Fred Rogers’ work continues to have an impact.

You’ll find references to him in all kinds of media –  especially in blogs where moms, young adults and professionals are sharing their appreciation for his important life messages.  People write about a quote they hold dear, or a scene from a program that has stayed with them, or words from his commencement speeches that have inspired them long after they left college, or messages from him that helped in their parenting – or in their own lives.

Here’s a sampling from recent blogs:

• There is something about him [Fred Rogers] which seems to affect me now as much as then...and maybe even more than when I was a child,...it really has been quite astonishing to go back to him again.  “It’s you I like" has made me a better person the last few days, more than any goals I have made for myself have done.  He says that, too, now that I think about it – that it’s hard to grow, unless you can be accepted for who you are right now.  That simple idea helps me with myself, and with other people, too….

• …A few weeks ago, I decided that they need a show like his for twenty-somethings, where a nice man just comes on the TV and says that we’re good people, and that we’re alright how we are …I want someone to just look at me and smile and genuinely say, “You’re a good guy and try really hard and I like you just the way you are,” and mean it…

• Recently, I shared with my graduate students a beautiful quote by Fred Rogers.  He sums up and simplifies a basic human need that we can help to meet in our schools, counseling sessions and in life in general.  He writes: Everybody longs to be loved.  The greatest thing that we can do is let somebody know that they are loved and capable of loving.

• My kids were particularly riveted by the video about how crayons are made (“Let’s do that one again!”) [on the newly enhanced PBSkids.org/rogers].  As for me, I loved taking the mindblowing journey through the Mister Rogers tribute and trivia pages.

• Luckily, the thing about classics is that they always find a way to endure, in this case, in cyberspace on the recently redesigned Mister Rogers' Neighborhood PBS Kids website.  …What a good feeling to know Mister Rogers’ legacy remains alive!