07/01/2026
One brief interaction turned it all around….
I was excited to get out to Toe Down,a small music and arts festival in the mountains of North Carolina, to set up my booth this past weekend.
Unfortunately, I picked the wrong time of day to set up. It was hot. 🔥It was beyond hot, it was scorching. I got to my spot at the top of the small mountain and proceeded to set up my sprawling fairy world. By the time I was done arranging ALL the signs and stringing the lights, and etc. I was completely exhausted. That heat just zapped me. With sweat streaming down my face, I took a few moments to rest and prepare for my shift. I couldn’t help but feel a little nuts for setting all of this stuff up and doing what I do. Was I a little crazy? Was this all worth it?
After a short rest I took a few deep breaths, wiped the sweat from my brow and flipped the sign to read: “Open”,and began doing my thing.
Within minutes, a woman walked swiftly over to my booth. She began to share something with me that shifted me so deeply, so quickly.
She said:
You might not remember me, but I came to your booth one year ago here at this event with my young son at a very intense and critical time in our lives.
She reminded me how she had shared that her son had had some serious symptoms and they took him to the neurologist… There was a fear of a scary diagnosis and they were a few days away from going to find out the results. She was terrified.
She told me that when she had approached my Booth the previous year and entered into the energy, she was already put at ease, she said the fact that I had set up such a positive and uplifting space reminded her that there is still good in the world. She knew she was in the exact right place in that moment. She said the way that I was vulnerable,sharing with her my own experience of having a health scare years ago and how to stay positive and that the doctors don’t always say the right things and know how everything is going to play out made a difference. She said that my authenticity and openheartedness shifted her…and through our exchange she walked away knowing that whatever happened, it would be OK.
She couldn’t stress enough how much of an impact our connection had made on her. She said she had been thinking about it ever since.
Then she brought her son over (not pictured), who had received a healthy report btw, and reunited us. We shared a very sweet moment on the top of that mountain…nothing else mattered in that moment.
Hearing her story instantly made it all worth it. It brought tears to my eyes and gratitude filled my heart. It was divine timing that she approached and gave me that reminder and validation that I so needed about the work I do in the world.
That was such a gift.
And so it began. A weekend full of deep connection, laughter, tears, ridiculousness, and hope.
Lines formed, and people approached….stepping into the unknown… people asked about helping to quit va**ng, how to handle their anxiety….hugs and thumb wars… and of course, lots of Bad Advice😎 each experience was completely different, I love that about the Booth. Flowing in the complete unknown.
That’s where the growth happens.
To say I’m grateful for all the love and joy and magical moments in my life is such an understatement. ❤️
One of the themes throughout the weekend was that booths like these are needed and make a big difference in the world. We need spaces for genuine connection and kindness and love.
Two things I want to mention because I want to always do this, and I want to be successful…
1) if you’re inspired and want to support my work, I have a Patreon that you can join and pledge a couple bucks a month (link in comments)
2) I’m available for hire for private parties, corporate gigs, weddings, etc.
It feels kind of weird to add these two things, because this is definitely not a commercial, but there’s not a lot of money in Free Hugs and Free compliments  and I really want to do this more often 😁🤪😊
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