Just saw Neil Pasricha reveal the #1 Awesome Thing (awesomely, he lives in my hometown). For those living under a digital rock, he’s been counting down awesome things daily over on his blog, conveniently named 1000 Awesome Things. He started on June 20th, 2008 with a post about the mutant vegetable Broccoflower, and proceeded to add a new one roughly every day for 4 years. He had some funny stories to share tonight, but actually spent most of the hour talking about people in the crowd as opposed to himself, asking people to share awesome things that happened to them, and having everyone write an awesome thing on a cue card before trading cards with a stranger in the crowd.
At the very moment he started talking, something auspiciously awesome happened. His blog is about positive things that people can universally identify with; there are also, however, many frightening things we can all relate to. One thing everyone can recall from childhood is the feeling of panic and helplessness from being separated from your parents in a large public space, a fear that parents can certainly identify with in a different form. As Neil began his talk, a boy of about 4 years old came running through isles, bawling and unaccompanied. The woman next to me kneeled down as he passed by us and said:
“What’s wrong? You can’t find your parents?”
The boy nodded, sobbing.
“It’s ok, don’t worry, I can help you find them.”
Imagine, being so tiny in such a huge world – it’s scary, no matter what age you are. But there are people out there that are happy to help us find what we’re looking for. The woman held the boy’s hand and looked around the store, quickly locating his frantic mother coming up the escalator and reuniting them. There is awful in the world, but there is also awesome.
The “Awesome” concept is so simple but has mammoth implications, and I think that is why he has become a global phenomenon with 2 bestselling spinoff books. Neil is just a genuine, creative dude and found success by sharing an optimistic view of the world. Sometimes you’re in a bad mood and life sucks, but there is always something awesome at your fingertips if you look for it. That may seem fake, that you have to manufacture awesome, but it is a powerful skill to be able to shape your own attitude to see the positives in life. Often we can let the negatives overshadow and be dragged down by small defeats or get stuck in ruts. A perspective shift can right our course. And there is always someone there to offer a guiding hand.
So now Neil has reached Awesome Thing #1, and though he just revealed it at the book store I’ll let you wait until 12:01 tonight to check it out on his blog. It’s adorable, profound, cheesy and perfect.
Additionally, in the centre of the crowd they had chocolate milk on tap. You read that right. That, my friends, is awesome.
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