L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

This was a phrase essential to the way in which Mr. Rogers himself lived his life. The phrase means this: What is essential is invisible to the eyes. 

Like the days in which lessons are stopped because you can feel the internal sorrow of a child who is frustrated and needs a little pep talk in the hallways. 

Like the mornings you wake up and feel revived and excited to spread hope and love and joy to every student in the classroom despite the fact that no one is understanding the math lesson you are teaching...

The feeling of giving is essential

The feeling of giving back or mending a small, broken soul is essential

The joy on the face of your husband who opens up his coffee jar to find freshly ground coffee is essential

Actively listening to stories of others-essential

"Special Labels" are not essential

"Titles" are not essential

"Material objects of how you look" - not essential

"The amount of awards we have" not essential

"The amount of good grades we achieved in school" not essential

Passion- essential

Continuing to dream and dream some more- essential

The ability to wake up every day and think about creating something different, something new, something that contains rational optimism- essential

Creativity itself is the essential whimsy that helps us to bridge where we are with what we wish to see in this world. 

And I suppose you look back on this list sometimes and realize just how much time was wasted with the non-essential items of this world because on the outside they appear shiny and new. Whereas the essential items are often humbly hidden-so hidden in fact that you have to let yourself feel the essential rather than looking for the fleeting sparkles and fame.