Hello. My name is Stacie and I am a caffeine addict. Now that we’ve got that out in the open… I have a lovely story for you. I woke up today in the mood to organize, reflect, reset, and gain some focus. And since I don’t function well without my coffee, and it was a beautiful day for a drive, I decided to treat myself to Starbucks.
While I was waiting for the barista… people-watching as I often do… I witnessed a small miracle.
A woman came in and handed a device to a worker at the far end of the counter. It had a bright purple cover. Moments later, the woman directly next to me — wearing mostly purple (my favorite color, I love that) — threw her hands up.
“That’s my phone!” She took her beloved device back and was absolutely beaming. “She must’ve found it outside, I just lost it!” I couldn’t help smiling all over.
“That was so kind of her to bring it in,” I said. I was definitely swept up in the moment.
“Wow…I can’t believe it.” She was smiling, grinning, glowing…it was electric. Such a precious moment; a simple thing. “Not everyone would do that! God bless that woman!”
“I think you have angels in your pocket,” I said.
“You better believe it,” she answered back, still glowing.
That one gesture caused such a ripple. The woman who found and returned the phone left with a clear conscience, feeling good about what she’d done. The woman in purple got her phone back, and was overjoyed. I simply observed all of this, and couldn’t help feeling the joy in the room. The barista smiled, too.
The woman in purple then told me a story: She once lost her Metro card near Lincoln Center — that was charged up with about $100 — and she serendipitously found it again, on the ground, a distance away. And how high the odds were against something like that happening, with so many people milling around. I imagine if we stayed longer, we all would’ve been telling stories like this. It was that kind of vibe. And for a few minutes, we were strangers — who found connection — all swept away in the magic of serendipity and faith — and simple, everyday magic.
A few minutes later, I sat in my car with my delicious bucket of caffeine and recounted the experience. I’m still smiling, as I write this. And I’m sure the woman in purple went about her day feeling just a bit lighter, with a resurgence of hope, faith in humanity, and a sunny attitude.
Joy is contagious. We should never miss an opportunity to show integrity and kindness. Never underestimate the power of a simple gesture. Let’s keep our distractions in our pockets for a few minutes, and our eyes open to what we might see and feel in the world. Kindness, love, and joy exist…if we are open to them. Seeing life in this way, we just might start or witness a ripple that could change the vibe of an entire day, for a handful of people. And who knows where that will spread.
– Stacie Hammond
You can find her new book, “Ana J. Awakens” HERE
