For nearly a decade, the Cocoons™ campaign has been my way of celebrating Giving Tuesday, but after the challenges of the past few months, I came very close to sitting this year out. Then I remembered the reason I began the Cocoons™ campaign in the first place… One small act of kindness can unknowingly make a big difference.
Just before work on a Sunday morning in August 2001, I was sitting on a bench in Washington Square Park, reading a book, when an elderly woman, pushing a cart of assorted odds and ends, approached me. She informed me that the nearby Au Bon Pain was discarding its day-old pastries, and advised me to hurry if I wanted to get some before they were all gone.
I politely thanked the woman and told her that I was fine and returned to my reading. She then walked over to me and handed me a white paper bag, which I declined to take, but she insisted. Inside the bag were two cheese danishes: one with raspberry and one without. It was a very kind gesture on her part, but at the time, all I remember thinking was, “Hey, I don’t know you, or where this food’s been.” Still, I accepted the bag, “just to be nice.” Having done her good deed for the day, the woman smiled and went on her way.
Now, I had fully intended to toss the bag in the nearest rubbish bin once she was gone, and once she was out of sight, I got up to do so. But when I reached the bin, I questioned my reasoning for the action I was about to take and found that although I did not “know” this woman, I also did not “know” that there was anything wrong with the pastries. I “believed” there may have been, based upon my predetermination of the situation, but how could I possibly “know” unless I actually had the experience of eating them? So, I sat back down on the bench and did just that. And you know something? They were actually quite good. 😋
I realized in that moment that we (that woman and I) had both made assumptions about each other, and choices based upon those assumptions, which led us to take the actions we did (or, in my case, almost did). For her part, she saw me sitting with my bag on a park bench, reading a book, and likely thought that I was homeless. She then decided to be kind and give me the free pastries that she had just gotten. I, in turn, saw her pushing a cart of what I perceived to be her worldly possessions, and I thought that she was homeless. And based on that assumption, and some misplaced sense of socioeconomic superiority, I almost let her generosity go to waste.
Looking back on that day now, I realize how pervasively preconceived notions can be detrimental in determining how people regard one another. I mean, for all I know, that woman could have owned one of the condos on Waverly Place and just liked taking a walk through the park on Sunday mornings to get free pastries. Well, whatever her situation or her perceived perception of mine, she acted with kindness towards me, which, really, is all that matters. However, I will say that it seems the universe is not without a sense of irony, because, although I may not have been homeless when our paths crossed, I was two weeks later. 🥴
You see, I had planned to move into an apartment in Brooklyn on September 1st, but at the last minute, that fell through. Fast forward ten days to September 11th, and an already challenging situation became increasingly more so. But despite all the initial chaos and fear, I was fortunate enough to have a job (at least for the first few months, anyway), which meant that money that would have otherwise been allocated to rent, electricity, a landline, and internet could now be used to help others I encountered in the course of adjusting to my new set of circumstances.
Sometimes, when the problems in our own lives seem insurmountable, it helps to know that we may be able to affect some small change in the lives of someone else. Over two decades ago, an elderly woman in a park chose to make a change in mine, and although the memory of that unknown woman has faded, every now and again, I remember her choice... to act with kindness. And so the Cocoons™ campaign is, in actuality, a butterfly effect resulting from that act. Which is why, even though I was truly not feeling it this year, I decided to purchase enough supplies to put together a few Kits of Kindness™
…to try and brighten an otherwise gray and gloomy Giving Tuesday.
If you are interested in making a change in the life of someone you don’t know, and would like to contribute to this campaign, please purchase a Kindness Kit™ or enter your contribution amount below…
Contains: Face Mask, Hand Warmers, Mylar Blanket, Fruit Snacks, Tissues, Cough Drops, and Hand Sanitizer. (Please allow 4-13 days for delivery).
Contains: Face Mask, Hand Warmers, Toe Warmers, Mylar Blanket, Fruit Snacks, Tissues, Cough Drops, Hand Sanitizer, and Black Marker. (Please allow 4-13 days for delivery).
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Contains: Face Mask, Hand Warmers, Toe Warmers, Knit Cap, Gloves, Scarf, Snacks, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and other essential items. (Please allow 4-13 days for delivery).
Contains: Face Mask, Hand Warmers, Toe Warmers, Knit Cap, Gloves, Scarf, Socks, Snacks, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and other essential items. (Please allow 4-13 days for delivery).
Contains: Face Mask, Hand Warmers, Toe Warmers, Knit Cap, Gloves, Neck Gaiter, Socks, Snacks, Toothbrush/Paste, and other essential items. (Please allow 4-13 days for delivery).
Contains: Face Mask, Hand Warmers, Toe Warmers, Knit Cap, Gloves, Neck Gaiter, Socks, Snacks, Toothbrush/Paste, and other essential items. (Please allow 4-13 days for delivery).
…and if you’d like to contribute to this newsletter, you may do so below…
Continuous Coffee $4 (Monthly)
Coffee-powered creativity, by definition, requires coffee. Your recurring contribution covers the cost of one (1) extra large coffee each month (billed monthly).
Continuous Coffee $40 (Yearly)
Coffee-powered creativity, by definition, requires coffee. Your recurring contribution covers the cost of one (1) extra large coffee each month (billed yearly).
Onyx is the introductory tier of membership for those interested in joining. Your monthly recurring membership includes a Cocoons™ T-shirt, as well as other promotional materials to be announced at a later date.
Onyx is the introductory tier of membership for those interested in joining. Your yearly recurring membership includes a Cocoons™ T-shirt, as well as other promotional materials to be announced at a later date.
As always, your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Here’s wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday season. ^_^
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