Let me tell you about the day I met a real-life superhero. No cape, no special powers – just a sewing machine and a heart of gold. 🧵✨
It was a sunny Saturday at a Denver craft market called Crafted, where local makers gathered to support non-profit organizations. As a tea maker who believes in the power of community, I was already buzzing with excitement (and not just from sampling my own brews). Little did I know, I was about to get schooled into what true giving looks like.
There was Susan, my booth neighbor. Now, most of us consider ourselves pretty decent humans, right? We hold doors open, give up our seats on the bus, and maybe donate to charity when possible. We're basically collecting those "Good Person" stamps on our invisible karma cards. (I'm guilty of giving myself the occasional pat on the back for basic human decency – anyone else?)
But Susan? She's playing in a whole different kindness league.
She is a retired empty nester who could be living her best "feet up, Netflix on" life. Instead, she's turned her friend's unwanted upholstery fabric into a mission of pure generosity. She crafts beautiful handbags, sells them for $20, and – here's the kicker – donates every single penny to organizations in need.
When I asked her why, her answer was simple yet profound: "Because I can."
Let that sink in for a moment. Not "because I should" or "because I have to" but simply "because I can." (Is someone cutting onions in here? 🧅)
Here's what makes this story even more remarkable: Market days are HARD. We're talking about hours of standing, sweating through the summer heat, no lunch breaks, and enough physical work to make your FitBit think you've run a marathon. Most of us vendors do it for the passion (and, let's be honest, the profit). But Susan? She does it purely to give.
Now, this isn't a guilt trip. I'm not here to ask if you could be doing more (though, let's be real, we probably all could). This is about something bigger – it's about hope. In a world where news headlines can make you want to hide under your blanket fort forever, people like Susan and organizations like Crafted remind us that humanity's light still shines bright.
They show us that:
- Kindness doesn't need a spotlight
- Small actions can create big ripples
- Sometimes, the best use of privilege is to help others
- Retirement can be a beginning, not an end
- One person with a sewing machine can change lives
So here's to the Susans of the world, quietly crafting hope from fabric scraps. To the organizers of Crafted, creating spaces where commerce meets compassion. And to all of us who might be inspired to ask ourselves, "What could I do simply because I can?"
(P.S. - If you're ever at a Denver craft market and see a lovely lady selling gorgeous handbags with the biggest heart, tell her the tea lady says hi. And maybe buy a bag – it's probably the best $20 you'll ever spend on making the world a little better.) 🌟