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Happy 7,345th Monday of 2020.
If you're having trouble this morning (or this year) and need a reminder of all the good out there, may I offer up this article. I'd also like to share a few thoughts on how it came about (a thread): https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-favorite-moments-with-a-stranger-20200823.html
If you're having trouble this morning (or this year) and need a reminder of all the good out there, may I offer up this article. I'd also like to share a few thoughts on how it came about (a thread): https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-favorite-moments-with-a-stranger-20200823.html
I've been on what I heard someone recently describe as "the COVID coaster." I'll have moments of deep gratitude and then, moments of unusual despair.
At a few points, I even began to lose faith in the one thing I thought I’d always love — Philadelphia.
At a few points, I even began to lose faith in the one thing I thought I’d always love — Philadelphia.
And so, in a completely selfish move, I came on Twitter and asked people to share their favorite interactions with a stranger in Philadelphia with me.
I never intended to turn it into a story, I just wanted something to make me feel better - about Philly and the world.
I never intended to turn it into a story, I just wanted something to make me feel better - about Philly and the world.
And I asked for moments with a stranger because I've come to believe that the seemingly small moments in life - especially between strangers - are often the big moments.
And I think Philadelphians - despite a tough exterior - love interacting with strangers.
And I think Philadelphians - despite a tough exterior - love interacting with strangers.
I was awed and humbled by the stories that came in. And I was reminded of how one small action can reverberate through a person's entire life.
Some of these strangers may not even remember their kind deeds, but the recipients will never forget their actions.
Some of these strangers may not even remember their kind deeds, but the recipients will never forget their actions.
Then, our audience team shared my request for stranger stories on the Inquirer's Instagram channel, and dozens and dozens more stories poured in (which I only recently saw because I am terrible at Instagram).
But I feel like maybe there was a reason I didn't see those stories through Insta at first, because when I found them I was in a place where I really needed them and they made me emotional all over again.
Many commenters said reading them made them happy too.
Many commenters said reading them made them happy too.
And I thought, you know, if these stories made us happy, maybe they'd make other people happy too.
It was incredibly rewarding to read through them all but incredibly difficult to narrow them down for print (and even now, the piece is running over two Sundays).
It was incredibly rewarding to read through them all but incredibly difficult to narrow them down for print (and even now, the piece is running over two Sundays).
As I thought about how to structure the article, at one point I said to my editor: "These people don't need me to get in the way of their stories!"
And they didn't. They'd told them beautifully already. Plus, the less I wrote the more stories I could get in.
And they didn't. They'd told them beautifully already. Plus, the less I wrote the more stories I could get in.
Then began my week-long DM tornado where I randomly dropped into the DMs of more people than any sane, civilized, not-creepy adult should, asking for permission to use their stories and seeking additional details.
And everyone was completely lovely.
And everyone was completely lovely.
I love all of the stories, so I hesitate to call any my favorite, but one that especially touched me was this one about a @RitasItalianIce:
I called that Rita's to let them know a photographer would be out to photograph the location and that it was for a good news story. A day later, the manager called me back.
As we spoke about the story above, he said he believed he recalled it but there were many such stories.
As we spoke about the story above, he said he believed he recalled it but there were many such stories.
The Rita's manager said many people in end-of-life care have a hard time eating and water ice is one of the things they can eat that brings them joy & comfort and so the store tries to do what it can.
And I'd never thought about that before and I got emotional ALL OVER AGAIN.
And I'd never thought about that before and I got emotional ALL OVER AGAIN.
There are so many people committing kind and silent gestures out there all the time. I understand they don't do it for attention and that writing about these moments may be antithetical but guys I NEED THIS STUFF TO GET THROUGH 2020.
So if you have a story of kindness, happiness or good in the Philly region you think is worth sharing - or you have an idea for a call out you'd like me to make for other types of Philly stories, please feel free to hit me up here or via email at sfarr@inquirer.com.
One of the best responses I received to the article was from a kind colleague who said the collection of stories made them want to be the stranger someday, instead of the recipient.
That, in the end, I said, was actually the intent.
That, in the end, I said, was actually the intent.
In closing, I'd just like to share two stories I've done in the past about the kindness of strangers in Philadelphia.
This is a great city of incredible people. May none of us ever forget that, even when it's hard to remember. https://www.inquirer.com/life/hugh-jackman-show-wells-fargo-center-south-philadelphia-good-samaritan-20191022.html
This is a great city of incredible people. May none of us ever forget that, even when it's hard to remember. https://www.inquirer.com/life/hugh-jackman-show-wells-fargo-center-south-philadelphia-good-samaritan-20191022.html
