'1-4-3 Day': Pennsylvanians celebrate kindness in honor of Mister Rogers and his favorite number

Fred Rogers and King Friday.
The number 143 was very special to Fred Rogers. To the star of “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,” it meant, I love you. “It takes one letter to say I and four letters to say love and three letters to say you. One hundred and forty-three,” he was fond of saying.
He even tried to maintain the weight of 143 pounds by swimming every day at a pool in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Three years ago, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf declared May 23, the 143rd day of the year, to be 1-4-3 Day in the state, celebrating Rogers’ commitment to kindness. “Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person,” Rogers once mused.
Rogers grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and his television show was produced at WQED Pittsburgh.
The governor’s office recommends that the state’s residents celebrate in three ways:
- Embrace the spirit of the kindest Pennsylvanian, Fred Rogers
- Do something kind for your neighbors
- Spread the love by using hashtag #143DayInPA
In its third year, the holiday seems to be catching on, especially in Pennsylvania schools, where one class celebrated by wearing cardigan sweaters, just like Mister Rogers did. It was also celebrated by incarcerated individuals at SCI Laurel Highlands, who raised over $7,000 for Cambria County Children and Youth Services.
Here's how other people celebrated throughout the state on May 23, 2022.
Today is 143 Day, a statewide day of kindness in honor of Mister Rogers! Wyland Elementary students wore cardigans — a tribute to our special neighbor’s iconic attire ❤️ #143DayinPA pic.twitter.com/GGlE7Jadmq
— Hampton Township SD (@Hampton_Talbots) May 23, 2022
Today is 1-4-3 Day --- A Day meaning “I Love You”, that was made popular by PA's very own Fred Rogers, better known throughout the neighborhood as Mr. Rogers!
— Senator John Kane (@SenatorJohnKane) May 23, 2022
We decided to share our most recent 1-4-3 act from our volunteer day where we partnered with “Good Works”! #143DayinPA pic.twitter.com/AzXImMEOV5
Happy #143DayInPA, SCI! 🤗 Take some inspiration from Mr. Rogers himself and celebrate kindness today! pic.twitter.com/xOuO6Wp0hh
— School of Computing and Information (@SciPitt) May 23, 2022
In honor of #143DayInPA, incarcerated individuals at SCI Laurel Highlands donated $7,000 to Cambria County Children and Youth Services from money raised through various hoagie, pastry, soda, protein and ice cream sales. pic.twitter.com/d5JzXTeGBj
— PA Department of Corrections (@CorrectionsPA) May 23, 2022
Fogelsville is celebrating 143 day! I came back to my gym to find some great messages that made my day. #fvfoxes #143DayinPA pic.twitter.com/jcBhbv1ngc
— Mr. Webster 🦊 (@MrWebsterPE) May 23, 2022
Happy 1-4-3 Day, world! Today, I will strive to do at least 143 acts of kindness throughout my day, and let me just start by saying, "You look marvelous!" #143DayinPA #143Day #FredRogers #MrRogers pic.twitter.com/afVX8gNul5
— Noel Sufrin (@NoelSufrin) May 23, 2022
#143DayInPA ❤️ https://t.co/5LU7HmjEKs
— visitPA (@visitPA) May 23, 2022
Happy #143DayinPA, neighbors! Happy #143Day, everyone! pic.twitter.com/yhiPPUC8Pl
— Gregg Behr (@greggbehr) May 23, 2022
Ready for #143dayinpa ... pic.twitter.com/54mfvBqnJi
— Dr. Shelly Bucci (@bucci_shelly) May 23, 2022
Fred Rogers is one of the most admired Americans of the past century and his message of kindness is sorely needed now more than ever. That’s why some are advocating for making 1-4-3 Day a national holiday so that Rogers’ values will be celebrated in communities across the country.
Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski, co-authors of “When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids,” made a compelling case for 1-4-3 Day becoming a national holiday in Time.
A recent study by Pew Research shows that Americans believe we could use a lot more neighborliness, too.
At a time when Americans' trust in each other and its institutions is waning, 86% of us still believe it can be rebuilt with greater community cooperation. Who better to inspire us to reach that goal than America’s favorite neighbor, Mister Rogers?
While many of us look at Washington for solutions to our country’s problems, so much could be fixed if we simply took action in our local communities. A 79-year-old woman polled by Pew offered a simple but powerful solution to the country’s problems. “Seek common ground that engages as many as possible in the community and organize around a project that addresses that common concern,” she said.
“Mister Rogers' Neighborhood” first aired nationally on PBS in 1968 and just about every child born since was taught about simple human kindness by Fred Rogers. Sadly, some of us have forgotten that lesson as we’ve grown older, so a national 1-4-3 holiday would be a perfect way for every American to reflect on those important values and to recommit to being the neighbors that Mister Rogers taught us to be.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.