Look for the helpers

Do you remember Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood? This program was a staple in children’s television for over three decades. I have many fond memories of watching our friendly neighbor, tie up his shoes, button up his cardigan, and head out on an adventure of discovery right in his own backyard. Well it ends up; his Mother was pretty wise too.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
― Fred Rogers

This small shift in focus can change everything for a child, and for us. Try it; find a picture of a disaster. I simply Googled “picture of disaster”; then looked for the helpers. I was surprised with what I found. Yes, I found a lot of devastation, but in nearly every image, there were helpers. It didn’t matter where in the world the disaster was, there were the helpers.

If the evening news was an accurate reflection of our world, we’d all be doomed. However, most news broadcasts look at the world through a very narrow lens; basically, the scarier the better. Unfortunately by playing to our baser instincts, they aim to ensure optimum viewership. Try not to look at the car accident as you pass, it’s instinctual, and this is how they lure us in.

The problem is they’re only reporting part of the story, and not the part that encourages or inspires. My friend Suzanne Bernier, an internationally recognized emergency management consultant is the author of “Disaster Heroes”. She tells the stories of ordinary men, women and children who have done extraordinary things to help respond, recover and rebuild following some of the world’s most significant modern disasters.

Prior to her career in crisis management, Suzanne was a news reporter and anchor, as well as government press secretary/communications advisor and speechwriter. Since then she has personally be involved in crises such as the 1998 “Ice Storm of the Century” in Eastern Canada, the 2003 Northeast Blackout, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the H1N1 pandemic, as well as numerous floods, fires, severe storms and reputational crises.

What has made her so effective in crisis management has been her focus. She is solution based and always seeks out the helpers. They’re there, we just have to change our focus, and we can begin to see hope in seemingly hopeless situations. In fact we all have the ability to be helpers. However, it is when apathy and fear cloud our judgement that we turn from helpers into bystanders. So we need to consistently focus on what we want to see more of, and exercise compassion through action whenever possible.

Action Ideas:

• Create a game or assignment for your students which encourages them to seek out the helpers.The affects from this change in focus can be very powerful.
• Get Suzanne Bernier’s amazing book “Disaster Heroes”
• Consider bringing the “School Heroes Unite” bullying prevention program to your school. Thisprogram celebrates diversity, fosters empathy, and brings out your students’ inner hero. It has all the spirit of a pep rally but with a magical twist, and provides students with real tools and a plan of action.

Award Winning Magician, Speaker, Author & former YTV Personality
Scott Dietrich
416 580 5522
scott@schoolheroesunite.com
www.schoolheroesunite.com