Jessica Alfieri

writes everything you see here.

• The Giving Project

  Mar 1, 2010 tagged as giving project, New York

  My latest little side project is aimed at making things better, because I think we could all use more of that.  I’m going to write about and photograph the nice things I see every day (and also not report the not-nice things I see every day, or am I just not going to see not-nice things anymore?  Hmm.)  Anyway, I’m talking about the people who hold doors, the cashiers who smile as they pack up your groceries, the stories people exchange to comfort strangers, and the neighbors who bring in packages for each other.

  I’m going to highlight the shining bits of empathy in the world, because I think those bits make everything a lot brighter.  And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather look through some rose-colored glasses than the dingy yellow ones I’ve been using for a while.

  So, for example, if you, like me, had been sitting in your office getting some good work done, enjoying the sunlight streaming in the windows and generally breathing in a kind of peace this afternoon… UNTIL some punk kids stormed by your house and hurled a frozen hunk of snow at your fragile little window, after which your nerves were understandably ruffled; you might benefit from this new effort.  PEOPLE DO NOT ALWAYS SUCK.

  Then again, sometimes retail therapy is the only way to go.