Josh Ritter: Good Man
I was in Austin this past weekend for the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and it is safe to say that these two kids below made the days of at least 376 people. I watched them for a good 15 minutes and saw them bring a genuine smile to all those who walked by them.
Here was their gig. They stood in front of the Barton Spring entrance to the festival and complimented something about every person that walked by in their surf- kid-move- to -Austin kind of way. Everyone coming through that entrance had walked at least a mile to get there and at that moment the rain was letting up a bit. They complimented shoes, hair, fanny packs, tights, lipstick, food, smiles, good walking styles, you name it they talked about it.
{Love these guys}
“Those are some hot looking pearl earrings you’re wearing.”
“Dude…super cool cowboy hat!”
“Ma’am, I’m really digging those clogs. I love they way they compliment your eyes!”
“Wow…those sunglasses make you looking freaking rad!”
Most smiled and laughed immediately. Pure good smiles. Caught off guard. Walked a little lighter. It doesn’t matter what they said, the people enjoyed it. For some it took a while to sink in that these to kids were genuine. Others cynically laughed at what they thought was the absurdity of the whole thing, but they were the ones missing out.
Aside from the heartless souls, it was heart warming to see everyone affected in such a simple but brilliant way. In the 15 minutes I was there, their social service was 100% effective.
It wasn’t complicated or contrived. They weren’t particularly witty or clever. Just honest. Refreshingly so considering the second guessing of others motives that is rampant in our cities. It’s almost a sickness. “I won’t like you until you give me a good reason to and I certianly won’t be ignorant enough to think you are genuinely interested in me.”
It certainly made me aware of how cynical I can react to the people on this planet. Their sign was like a mirror to my jaded soul. Note to self. Loose the cynicism jerk and don’t become a narcissist or else…
While we’re on the topic, did you know they now have a medical term for narcissists (i.e. assholes)… Narssholes?
Check this out: https://www.google.com/health/ref/Narcissistic+personality+disorder
My mom used to say the more inward and selfish you become, the smaller your world becomes. So smile, engage, laugh…HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY =) dude I love those Uggs your wearing. Okay maybe I’m still a bit jaded, but I still like you.
