I also don't have the patience to sit on this, rewrite it, and post it later. Because I'll get all weird and obsess and then I'll never post it. And that's just too strange and cowardly. Sooooo, typos be damned; I'll just jump right in.
My friends, Jennifer Lawrence is kind. We can all agree on that, right?
She seems to genuinely care for others and good will seems to follow wherever she goes.
image: pandawhale.com
It's a very good thing.
But what she models is nothing special. Or, rather, it shouldn't be. This is just what being a good person looks like, you guys. It's equal parts not taking yourself too seriously, showing genuine concern for others, and being willing to inconvenience yourself for the sake of others.
Sure, there's more that goes into being a good person but this is the gist of it, no?
Personally, I find it to be a tiny bit sad that we're all so surprised by someone displaying some common decency.
Is it just because she's a celebrity that we're baffled by her benevolence? Because celebrities are just, you know...people. Humans, you guys. Just like us. I mean, don't you read the "Stars: They're Just Like Us!" section if US Weekly"? They breathe oxygen, have feelings, and eat food. It's weird, I know... but totally true. I'm told.
Or is the problem really that we're all such self-centered, horrible goons that true generosity of spirit has become extremely rare.
Can someone please tell me what's the big deal? Anyone else with me on this? What are your thoughts and feelings about why we're all seemingly so surprised by simple acts of kindness these days?
Below is the video I watched today which got my wheels spinning, so you can blame Mashable.com for my little diatribe, if that's what this is.
video via mashable.com
Update: See it here instead.
I'm all of a sudden reminded of this tidbit from Willy Wonka.
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| photo via pinterest.com |
And then, this episode of 30 Rock. Obviously.
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| photo via snappynewday.com |
My mind is a grade school playground on field day. But I digress.
Back to the point. Was there one?
Oh, yeah! And why, WHY, is it so 'AHHHHMAZING' that Jennifer Lawrence should be friends with Andy Strunk? I mean, he seems like a super nice fella and they went to school together. Would she not be kind of a jerk if she weren't nice to him?
video via huffingtonpost.com
As for her, it must be so odd to live in a fishbowl and she does it with her own ridiculously amusing mixture of grace, charm, and whimsy.
Besides being lovely and sweet, she's irreverent.
She's goofy.
And she's totally funny.
Did you SEE her on SNL? Good God.
Must. See.
Aaaaaand she's perfectly imperfect. What's not to love?
above images: facesofjenniferlawrence.tumblr.com
So, yes; she's great. She's kind. And that is truly wonderful. And I'm sure we'll never know the half of it because she doesn't seem like the kind of gal who'd flaunt her good deeds. But the media seems to get all lathered up over these simple acts of kindness. I mean, are we all too eager to believe that common courtesy and regard for others should be special things?
I, for one, would really like to see us all trying to up the ante and maybe, just maybe, set the bar just a little bit higher. Kick it up so that being decent is just the norm and no longer impresses us.
Not Jennifer. She's awesome. But the rest of us who get all misty because she's friends with someone who's a little different from her or that she stopped to say hello to a stranger? Good grief.
So, let's get crackin'! Let's hold some doors and stop to let others through in traffic. Let's not get huffy when someone gets our order wrong. Let's all agree to pay for something for someone else this week. Just in line at the coffee shop or whatever.
Let's be really, really nice. Liiiiiike, NICE NICE.
And if you want to go even further...if you feel you need more, do something.
Local folks, here are some places in St. Louis you can volunteer your time in an effort to hitch your limbo stick a few notches up. Let's lofty up those aspirations!
You could lend your time and work with adorable kittens or puppies...
Or you could volunteer with kids and other types of people who aren't kids...
These are just a few examples that come to mind off the top of my head. But you can find a ton of other opportunities here if you're so inclined, whether you're local or not.
Keep in mind that if you don't have time to give, all of these organizations accept- and in many cases depend on - monetary donations. In fact, a friend is taking donations for Winter Outreach Warm Up if you're looking for a worthy cause to help out with right now.
Of course, if you're already kicking ass in this arena, you probably aren't as swayed by the media's narrative and this doesn't really apply to you. So, have a cookie. You have earned it, my friend.
The rest of you, go on now. Do you! However that's done.
Maybe we should ask Russell Simmons?
Aaaaand if you need to borrow this book, I totally own it. Oy.
At any rate, I'll be right beside you, trying not to cry about how haaaaaard it is. Waaaaaah! Perhaps now, we won't be so easily impressed. Because, my loves, we've been snookered.
Let me know how it goes, won't you?
xoxo
Megan
Oh, and Ps. If you have beef with this post, feel free to say so.
Just know that I'm with Jennifer.
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| photo via dailymail.co.uk |
And Fred.
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| photo via cracked.com |
I love Jennifer. To me, the sad part about the niceness of Jennifer is that I suspect people think "why is she so nice when she doesn't need to be?"; they think it's as if there is a point in one's status quo that relieves them of the duty of being nice and kind. Or as if we expect anyone in that position to be a bad role model because so many are bad role models. But, whatever...I totally, like, love her.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Stephy. She's exempt. Obviously. Therefore, her kindness is just a bonus.
DeleteLike whipped cream on a whoopie pie.