A few years back, sitting down with Brene Brown, I asked what living a good life meant to her. Her answer was that it was about acknowledging and exalting the little moments that so many of us steamroll over in the mad rush to get to the bigger moments. I know what she means. I've experienced so many small moments of grace that have added up to bigger moments of awakening. One happened a number of years back. It took only seconds but left a huge imprint on me. And the way I look at others. I share that story in today's short and sweet episode of our August Summer Jam Sessions series. Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Good Life project, where we take you behind the scenes for in depth, candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, makers, and world shakers.
Here's your host, Jonathan Fields.
So a few years ago, on the steps of a local post office, having one of those brutal days, too much to do, lines everywhere, perspective, pretty tough sell.
And the post office was certainly no exception.
After about 20 minutes online, I finally had my turn, and business done fell quickly into, like that New York stride.
Moving to the steps, I glance up, and I'm almost knocking over this young kid who's dressed in a blazer and a tie.
He looked maybe about eight or nine years old.
He's kind of nervously offering chocolate bars for sale and saying, help our school.
But all habits died pretty hard.
I mean, for years as a New Yorker, I came to see almost anyone who asked for money on the street.
In the same vein as pests, addicts, thieves.
Yeah, even kids plants used by parents maybe to solicit money for alcohol or drugs.
But through a combination of fatherhood, spiritual exploration, the pursuit of maybe a more conscious path, and a switch to decaf latte, I found my outlook really sort of seeding to a more compassionate voice.
You know, it was less, why are you bothering me?
And more, well, who am I really to judge?
So as I look up at this kid and he's smiling kind of insecurely, feeling like maybe my karma needs a little bit of a zip that day, too.
I want to do something nice.
So I offer him a buck.
I buy a bar of chocolate, and I say, thank you.
I'm feeling pretty good and did a good deed.