You are beautiful
When we were in Cape Cod on spring break I was drawn to a little pack of stickers that say “you are beautiful.” I put them in my purse and forgot about them. I thought perhaps I would send them to all my friends. The next night we went to our first restaurant in the age of Covid. We sat outside in our own personal greenhouse. The server was so incredible, patient with us in every way and such an uplifting presence. I showed the kids my pack of stickers that just happened to be in my purse still. I told the kids that I wanted to give her one. I asked if they would like to give it to her. My 4 1/2-year-old daughter wanted to be the one to give it to her. She handed it to her and said, “I love you.”
The server was so touched. A few minutes later as we were leaving we saw her holding her cell phone. I imagine that she was going to stick the sticker to her phone. The next day was our last day on Cape Cod. On the way out we stopped in another restaurant and ate in their outdoor picnic benches. A duo was sitting together that we just started chatting with. I woman had exquisitely dyed hair in every shade of the rainbow. It was gorgeous and very peacock like. Even more so her personality was beautiful. She was with an older man who I partly wondered if he was her father or just a friend. They chatted with us a bit. My 8 1/2-year-old son leaned in close and said “mom, let’s give them stickers.”
it’s become a magic little tradition. Our own little random act of kindness to share with people. We have given them out one by one in all kinds of places. Last week I gave one to a medical technician who was so compassionate and loving in a time when I felt a little nervous. And then today I gave one to my dermatologist. She said, “these kinds of small positive acts can change the world. Thank you so much.” This is after she went and got a piece of paper and wrote down the name of her hairdresser and the name of the salon. After I was telling her I was still settling into western Massachusetts life and hadn’t really found “the one” in terms of a hairdresser, eyebrow waxing place and Mani Pedi place. (this all started with her neon pink toenails that were such a ray of sunshine in the bleak medical building.)
if I was standing with you right now, I would give you a sticker too. Because you are beautiful.