“There are times I look at the pile of laundry on the bed and wish I had magic.
Bibbidi, bobbidi, done.
There are times I look at my to-do list for work and wish I had magic.
Abracadabra, done.
There are times I wonder how I’ll possibly meet the deadline, or catch up with emails, or find the missing and very special sock. And as I sit there feeling flustered, I wish I had magic.
Presto, changeo, done.
It never seems to work though, just sitting there, wishing for magic.
Until yesterday, when it did.
A neighbor walked by with her dog and stopped to talk with me and my children.
She recently retired and now performs magic full-time.
A real-life magician.
When my son asked if she could teach him a trick, I looked to find her an out.
My neighbor must have things to do, a walk to finish, dishes to wash.
But instead, she happily waited while a giddy 6-year-old fished out playing cards from the closet.
And then my neighbor, the magician, sat right down on the side of the road, teaching my children one magic trick after another.
It wasn’t fast.
There wasn’t a rush.
She wasn’t looking for anything to disappear.
Instead, the magic she generously shared with them was patient and graceful, and kind.
I don’t know how long we all sat there on the side of the road doing magic before she stood to leave. It was a while though.
And then, when I went back inside and saw the laundry, and the to-list, and the emails, I started to wish for magic again.
It was a different kind of magic this time though.
Magical patience with myself, to know it might not get done fast, but it will get done eventually.
Magical grace for myself, to know it will not all get done perfectly, and that’s okay.
Magical kindness to share with me, share with my family, and share with the world, because I can’t possibly be the only one feeling too stretched.
The big takeaway?
I think maybe it’s okay to keep walking through this life looking for magic.
Not magical answers necessarily, but magical feelings and moments.
The kind you get to keep and remember, and share.
A real kind of magic.
The kind of magic you co-create and don’t need to wait around for at all.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Becca Carnahan. You can follow her journey on Instagram and her website. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
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