Monthly Challenge: Grateful for the Unexpected

I Spy the Heart Fairies

Who they are and what makes them so special

When prompted to describe something unexpected that I’m grateful for, a movement of sorts that developed in my community immediately came to mind.

During the early months of the pandemic, when people all over the globe began living in fear of the endless list of uncertainties presented by the coronavirus, a small group of women in my town decided to tackle the darkness with some simple rays of light.

They call themselves the “Heart Fairies” and I first learned of their random acts of kindness on Facebook, noticing post after post of these colorful plastic hearts being hung from tree branches, fence posts, and doorknobs in nearby neighborhoods.

They shared ideas on how to create the tiny spectacles (which many refer to as sun catchers) with cookie cutters and plastic beads that can be found at craft stores.

I’m not crafty, but I was intrigued. I didn’t need to make the hearts myself to appreciate their beauty. The sun catchers themselves are gorgeous — handcrafted hearts that are chock full of bright colors and able to capture the light in magnificent ways. Like snowflakes, each one is unique. And when hung outside, they twirl with the wind.

I enjoyed following the group on social media as they got organized and recruited others to join their efforts. Those “random acts” weren’t as random as they had originally seemed, as they set out to spread their message far and wide.

They were on a mission to wrap the entire community in bright colors — tiny rays of hope — and to make sure every neighborhood in town was touched.

At one point, when I was out walking my dogs, I must have counted a dozen or so within a stone’s throw of my house before I stopped keeping track. The hearts didn’t need to be tallied. They had been placed there for the enjoyment of others, as a reminder that there is good in the world, even when it’s not always easy to see.

A few weeks after I became aware of the Heart Fairies, someone surprised me by hanging one in a tree planted in my own front yard. I spotted it through the window when I came downstairs first thing that morning.

It stopped me in my tracks and left me breathless for a moment. It felt strange how something so small, so simple, and that could be made for less than a dollar, was able to evoke such feelings of joy and gratitude.

By that time, I had been working remotely and mostly staying at home. Like everyone during those early days of the pandemic, the only contact I had was with my immediate family.

Receiving that anonymous sun catcher took my mind in endless directions as I visualized someone taking the time to choose the perfect colors, bake it in the warmth of their own oven, and then visit my house after dark to hang it in just the right spot.

And when I later learned the identity of my personal “heart fairy,” I was touched even further. I knew her, but not well. In fact, I hadn’t thought about her in years as our paths had only crossed when our children were very young. But, she sent me a private message over Facebook to see if I had noticed her gift, and to say that she hoped I was holding up okay under the circumstances.

Her kindness landed directly on my heart, and I’ll never forget it.

The message being spread by the local Heart Fairies is universal, and reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”

- Maya Angelou

In closing, you might be interested to know that the Heart Fairies have grown in size and scope, branching out to deliver bottles of wine as well. That subgroup of women call themselves the “Wine Fairies,” and I’ve been lucky enough to have received a visit from them too!