This is so beautiful. When I was a single mom and my kids were young, life was pretty challenging. But, the older woman across this street who lived alone noticed me. Once in a while she would come out and she would say, "I think I need a hug today" and she would put her arms out and hug me saying that she needed that. And then at the end she'd always say you are a good mom. She'll never know how much that meant to me. She would definitely have fit in this little book of yours. I hope you publish it in some way because I'd love to have a copy.
Oh Nora. This is *exactly* the type of hero I was thinking of when I began putting this together. Yes yes yes. What a sweet, strong spirit. Makes me want to pay more attention and give more hugs, ya know?!? Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m so encouraged. I’m also confident you helped light up the life of this dear member of the Unlikelies, too. Sending lots of love your way today.
Reading these comments is as lovely as reading your original letter! I remember years ago taking my baby niece out to a coffee shop to give my sister a break. My anxiety at the time was that I wasn’t a fit person to do anything much. A stranger at the next table chatted and smiled and when I said I wasn’t mum but auntie she said, ‘isn’t that lovely, it means they trust you.’ And even now, that brings tears to my eyes. Did she know one of my biggest struggles is to trust myself? It was a vital gift that she needn’t have given 🥰🥹
Deb, this is such a stunning reminder of what wonderful "reminder-ers" we can all be for each other -- even as strangers. So so so grateful you shared this (and especially grateful for the kind, wise, and loaded words that unsuspecting unlikely hero shared). True true true. So happy there's a you.
There is so much truth in your words Brad I literally had tingles and started to cry. So simple. So true. So extroadinarily beautifully put. Thank you so much for sharing. <3
Karen, so encouraged by your comment. One never knows exactly how their work will be received. Part of me felt like this was too messy to share, but another part of me just really really wanted to blast it out into the world. Grateful I did and that it found a heart like yours. Thank you!
Branden! Thank YOU for being a champion of Unlikelies all over the world! You’ve truly helped put a spotlight where it hasn’t always traditionally been. It’s a big deal.
Marissa Dove Brown is such a wonderful hero. She quietly helps others and searches for ways to make life better for middle schoolers and their teachers. I love her bright eyed face that is always looking to see positives for others. Her peaceful happiness is earnest and contagious.
BETH!!! Yes yes yes. She is truly a gem. I am so grateful for who she is and where she is. I’m better for knowing you both! ALSO -- I cannot even begin to put into words how much you have encouraged me. Thank you. Truly. So deeply grateful for you and your family.
Oh, and my maternal grandma (Obāchan) would be my hero. She lives in Japan and I’m here in the US, so we’ve always been oceans way. Ever since I was little, she’d mail care packages full of plums she pickled from her garden, carefully curated Japanese goods/snacks, and the prettiest children’s books. She works effortlessly in her community, always among the first to volunteer and beautify their neighborhood just because. Pulling weeds, planting flowers, dropping off pastries and other surprise items at doorsteps. She was winning tennis tournaments in her 80s—an activity she picked up in her 40s and just excelled at. Her vivacious (and slightly mischievous!) spirit, generosity, and determination to bring good have always meant the world to me. 🥹
Oh I love this so much. Just reading about her is infectious! I can feel the goodness. Phil Ochs once said “In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty.” It’s like she’s been out there rebelliously filling the world with beauty. I’m so grateful to know this now. What a gift your sharing of this is with me today. May we be more like her!!
It’s easy to get swept up in global problems and big issues, and feel powerless. But we mainly live in the local. We can do a lot when we think of our local “world” and the people we come in contact with there.
In the few years I’ve lived on my street, I’d come to know my next-door neighbors in small moments of seeing each other as we come and go from our houses. Then last fall I had a stroke that kept me indoors throughout the winter and spring. Everyone saw the ambulance take me away late at night, and they knew I was caretaker for my mom, so the experience unlocked a new level of neighboring. The first week I returned from the hospital, one neighbor brought extra food over every night; she herself is 90 years old and lives alone, so the act of sharing from her meager supply was astonishing! Throughout this year, as I’ve recovered, my other neighbors have watched for ways they could help me without any even having contact most of the time. Even now, a year later, I find that my trash bin gets returned from the street every week before I even have a chance to retrieve it. 😄 I’ve tried to be an equally good neighbor in whatever way I can, which mostly looks like tossing all the sports equipment back over the fence when their young children misjudge height and distance in enthusiastic play. Being “unlikely” really is contagious!
I’m blessed with so many throughout my life - my parents who always supported and advised me, my godfather who has continually been there for me when times have been rough, my neighbor who brings over freshly cooked food on occasions and who drives me to get groceries, good friend who drove out of her way to help me with legal issues and was instrumental in my move to a new home and so many others.
This is so beautiful. When I was a single mom and my kids were young, life was pretty challenging. But, the older woman across this street who lived alone noticed me. Once in a while she would come out and she would say, "I think I need a hug today" and she would put her arms out and hug me saying that she needed that. And then at the end she'd always say you are a good mom. She'll never know how much that meant to me. She would definitely have fit in this little book of yours. I hope you publish it in some way because I'd love to have a copy.
Oh Nora. This is *exactly* the type of hero I was thinking of when I began putting this together. Yes yes yes. What a sweet, strong spirit. Makes me want to pay more attention and give more hugs, ya know?!? Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m so encouraged. I’m also confident you helped light up the life of this dear member of the Unlikelies, too. Sending lots of love your way today.
Reading these comments is as lovely as reading your original letter! I remember years ago taking my baby niece out to a coffee shop to give my sister a break. My anxiety at the time was that I wasn’t a fit person to do anything much. A stranger at the next table chatted and smiled and when I said I wasn’t mum but auntie she said, ‘isn’t that lovely, it means they trust you.’ And even now, that brings tears to my eyes. Did she know one of my biggest struggles is to trust myself? It was a vital gift that she needn’t have given 🥰🥹
Deb, this is such a stunning reminder of what wonderful "reminder-ers" we can all be for each other -- even as strangers. So so so grateful you shared this (and especially grateful for the kind, wise, and loaded words that unsuspecting unlikely hero shared). True true true. So happy there's a you.
I hope you do make this into a book. The Unlikelies need to know they are a gift to this world, that their gentleness is a strength :)
Thank you so much! I'd love to find a way to make it work as a book. Appreciate the encouragement so much! We could use more Unlikelies, right?!?
I'm so glad this is the first thing I read this morning!
I’m so glad you’re here! May we all be more and more unlikely. 🙂 Thanks for the kind words, Chantel!
I met a new Unlikely yesterday!
Amazing! It really is like they’re everywhere once you start looking!
There is so much truth in your words Brad I literally had tingles and started to cry. So simple. So true. So extroadinarily beautifully put. Thank you so much for sharing. <3
Karen, so encouraged by your comment. One never knows exactly how their work will be received. Part of me felt like this was too messy to share, but another part of me just really really wanted to blast it out into the world. Grateful I did and that it found a heart like yours. Thank you!
Love it Brad. So much. ❤️
DEE. Thanks a ton man. Stay unlikely!
I love this so much!
Branden! Thank YOU for being a champion of Unlikelies all over the world! You’ve truly helped put a spotlight where it hasn’t always traditionally been. It’s a big deal.
This is wonderful — thank you so much for thinking it up, writing it out, and sending it today…
I’m so happy it found YOU! Grateful for your presence and super kind words
Marissa Dove Brown is such a wonderful hero. She quietly helps others and searches for ways to make life better for middle schoolers and their teachers. I love her bright eyed face that is always looking to see positives for others. Her peaceful happiness is earnest and contagious.
BETH!!! Yes yes yes. She is truly a gem. I am so grateful for who she is and where she is. I’m better for knowing you both! ALSO -- I cannot even begin to put into words how much you have encouraged me. Thank you. Truly. So deeply grateful for you and your family.
This is so heartwarming. I love it!
Oh, and my maternal grandma (Obāchan) would be my hero. She lives in Japan and I’m here in the US, so we’ve always been oceans way. Ever since I was little, she’d mail care packages full of plums she pickled from her garden, carefully curated Japanese goods/snacks, and the prettiest children’s books. She works effortlessly in her community, always among the first to volunteer and beautify their neighborhood just because. Pulling weeds, planting flowers, dropping off pastries and other surprise items at doorsteps. She was winning tennis tournaments in her 80s—an activity she picked up in her 40s and just excelled at. Her vivacious (and slightly mischievous!) spirit, generosity, and determination to bring good have always meant the world to me. 🥹
Oh I love this so much. Just reading about her is infectious! I can feel the goodness. Phil Ochs once said “In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty.” It’s like she’s been out there rebelliously filling the world with beauty. I’m so grateful to know this now. What a gift your sharing of this is with me today. May we be more like her!!
Thanks, Brad. That quote is a keeper. I appreciate you taking the time to reply!
So happy it found you, Erika! Thanks for the kind words. May the unlikely become more and more likely!
It’s easy to get swept up in global problems and big issues, and feel powerless. But we mainly live in the local. We can do a lot when we think of our local “world” and the people we come in contact with there.
Great newsletter.
In the few years I’ve lived on my street, I’d come to know my next-door neighbors in small moments of seeing each other as we come and go from our houses. Then last fall I had a stroke that kept me indoors throughout the winter and spring. Everyone saw the ambulance take me away late at night, and they knew I was caretaker for my mom, so the experience unlocked a new level of neighboring. The first week I returned from the hospital, one neighbor brought extra food over every night; she herself is 90 years old and lives alone, so the act of sharing from her meager supply was astonishing! Throughout this year, as I’ve recovered, my other neighbors have watched for ways they could help me without any even having contact most of the time. Even now, a year later, I find that my trash bin gets returned from the street every week before I even have a chance to retrieve it. 😄 I’ve tried to be an equally good neighbor in whatever way I can, which mostly looks like tossing all the sports equipment back over the fence when their young children misjudge height and distance in enthusiastic play. Being “unlikely” really is contagious!
As a mother who stayed home with children for most of my professional life, I so appreciate this .... thank you <3
I’m blessed with so many throughout my life - my parents who always supported and advised me, my godfather who has continually been there for me when times have been rough, my neighbor who brings over freshly cooked food on occasions and who drives me to get groceries, good friend who drove out of her way to help me with legal issues and was instrumental in my move to a new home and so many others.
Ha! Hey! Thanks so so so much! Grateful you'd read and share such kind words.