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The photo above shows the back of my computer. You might recognize the "Embrace the Quest" line as the one I offered in my Lufkin Prize speech. I had those stickers made with Hotchkiss's Main Building, sparkles, and that catchphrase to give out after the speech. (If you're reading this and want one, please let me know. I have extras and would be happy to give/send you one.)
The other two stickers, however, appeared on my desk. I have no idea who gave them to me, but I do know that I feel seen by my sticker fairy (or fairies, since I don't know if they're from the same person).
The large, red-white-and-blue bottom sticker arrived first, near the beginning of an election year. I love that the sticker appears to make a political statement, but actually offers a humorous pro-grammar twist. I consider myself a professional grammarian and love talking about and teaching grammar. (Have you checked out the Conventions of Composition website? That's my work, mostly. If you're a teacher, I'll happily explain how it can improve your grading life.) Also, Chicago, amiright?
A few weeks later, I found the Cicely Tyson sticker on my desk. As you know if you've been to campus in the past twenty-plus years, I buy candy to give out in my office. As you may not know, this year, I started mandating a price-per-treat rule. Students (and adults, though more of them procure their own candy) have to answer a question to take a sweet. The week that sticker appeared, the going rate for a snack was to tell about working hard towards a challenge.
Whether I have one sticker fairy or two, both mornings I arrived at my desk to find these personalized gifts, I felt buoyed all day.
Another day, someone left a bedazzled copy of The Princess Bride and a kind note on my desk. Sparkles AND "As You Wish"? How could anything be more wonderful than that?! Here's how: receive the gift from a book fairy!
I've tried to act as something fairy for others. In a non-secret way, I serve as a Book Fairy for people on campus, offering my own books when I think someone will enjoy reading them and coordinating vacation-reading book gifts from the school for employees. Aside from that, I don't want to reveal any of the secret gifts I've given, but I can say that sneaking an anonymous present into the mailroom or onto the desk of a colleague provides as much joy for me as the appearance of perfect stickers. As I'm going about my life, I try to pay attention to what people need and/or what might spark joy for them. Then, if I can, I facilitate getting that object into the hands of that person.
Have you ever been a something fairy for someone else or had someone be one for you? Please share your thoughts about being a gift-giving fairy in the comments.
You might be the most generous person I know! Or come to think of it, you’re the third generation of the most generous people I know.
Amy Sedaris has a piece that I can’t find online about bringing a plate of crumbs to the office with a note saying, “Enjoy these cookies I made for you all!” The idea is for everyone to think they got there too late to get a cookie, but she would still get all the credit for making and bringing them. You’re almost exactly the opposite!
Awe, shucks.
The Amy Sedaris idea is hysterical. They’re a clever family, those Sedarises/Sedariai/Sedarii…