Kindness is Magic
“Kindness is Magic” first caught my eye in December of 2013, as part of the street art below. We were on our way to the Red Lion Tavern, and on the very wrong side of Silver Lake Blvd. to easily pull over and take a picture. As we drove by that night, I made a plan to come back the very next day to take a picture of this really important street art. Unfortunately, the next day turned into eight months later. And even more unfortunately, despite my very kind husband driving me to look for said street art, we discovered it had been removed via being painted over. Sad face…turned into a happy face: internet search revealed that Brooke of the Bad Joan blog also discovered this great street art. Please see photo credit below and her blog. It should be of no surprise that a fellow appreciator of these words as art writes a blog I would enjoy! Pink Unicorn moment. Thank you Bad Joan.
Photo Credit: Brooke Wilen (aka Bad Joan) a social media marketing expert
My internet search for the location of this street art lead me to learning that “Kindness is Magic” is linked to the show Derek. Derek shares that a friend once told him, “Kindness is magic, Derek. It’s more important to be kind than clever or good-looking.” I have often thought the same, but having the opportunity to view this in practice in my particular large urban city happens way too infrequently. If only everyone started to practice kindness more often. That would be magical! Kindness is a trait I have really grown to appreciate and admire in others. I’ve spent a lot of commute time wondering about the origin of kindness. When people are exceptionally kind, with no need for motive, where does it come from? Did they learn it from their parents or family members? Did/do they have life circumstances that promoted accelerated kindness development? Are they genetically predisposed to being kind? My best guess is it is a combination of all those factors, and for the rest of us, it is more of a choice that requires increased effort.
Yesterday, I had a Pink Unicorn combined with “Kindness is Magic” moment outside of Jai Yoga Hollywood. I was in the middle of making sure I had properly locked my bike, when a young woman pleasantly asked, “Excuse me, do you know where the yoga studio is?” I replied and pointed to its location on the second floor of the building. Due to being a little paranoid that I looked like a weirdo triple checking my lock situation, I truthfully added, “I am just checking my lock, because my old bike was stolen from my garage.” Yes, an overshare on my part, but her response was not in the least bit judgmental. Rather she responded “Do you need me to help you carry your bike up the stairs?” Wow, I was impressed by her kindness! Her offer put a smile on my face, in my heart, and in my thoughts. I didn’t need her help, but her words and actions were pure magic. Once I hit my late 20’s, my own physical limitations would have prevented me from offering that brand of kindness to anyone who appeared able bodied.
Outside a yoga studio, perhaps is a more likely place to find kindness. What about on a crowded airplane? Finding a gentleman and experiencing gentlemanly behavior can be a bit of a pink unicorn these days, especially if you aren’t dressed in a manner to easily attract gentlemanliness. Dressing and looking a certain way, I have observed may attract non-altruistic gentlemanliness, and I am always hoping for the altruistic kind. Exhibit A: a very thin, done-up woman wearing a short skirt and high heels on flight attracts flirty conversation, offers to put her luggage in overhead bins, and volunteering of seat so she doesn’t have to sit in middle (ok maybe this part didn’t happen or did it?) from non-altruistic gentleman. Exhibit B: me, messy uncombed hair, glasses, definitely no make-up, and wearing baggie clothing on flight received offer from a kind Pink Unicorn altruistic gentleman to put my luggage in overhead bin, a smile, and brief but pleasant conversation. My interaction with him and his kindness took over my thoughts. I didn’t think once my usual thoughts of how I would much rather be flying my preferred airline or about how gross I looked, rather I thought about how kind and gentlemanly he had been. And that, is magic for my overactive mind (no hyperbole here…I mean it). Verdict: Kindness IS MAGIC!!