swimming each morning , and working at a comfortable pace ( he liked to take his time ). He was able to face the truths of his pleasant and painful feelings , and people who knew him have remarked that he was true to himself . On-screen , Mister Rogers played himself : the truth of his vulnerable emotions shared through Daniel Tiger , his powerful emotions shown through King Friday , and beginning and ending each show with messages of love and acceptance — no puppets needed — for all his neighbors . He taught us that all our feelings are mentionable and manageable , and he modeled ways to share them and connect emotionally with our neighbors .
Excerpted from The Mister Rogers Effect by Dr . Anita Knight Kuhnley . Used by permission of Baker Books , a division of Baker Publishing Group ( http :// www . bakerpublishinggroup . com ). Copyright 2020 .
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Dr . Anita Knight Kuhnley is associate professor of counseling at Regent University . Kuhnley has worked as head counselor of a faith-based substance abuse facility , served as a counselor at a women ’ s community center , and directed a college counseling center . She is a popular conference speaker for the American Association of Christian Counselors and a blogger for the American Counseling Association . She lives in Virginia .
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