Playa-Magic -- Random Acts of Kindness from Strangers......

[Meat Hunter]

Playa-Magic -- Random Acts of Kindness from Strangers......

What acts of Playa-Magic have you experienced?

[happydragon]

My camp mates decided that they needed to blow dry their hair, and this resulted in blowing out both of our power inverters. (yes, they did it twice) I happened to mention it over drinks at the theme camp, and someone had a spare inverter they loaned me for the rest of the week. When I went to return it on monday before heading out, they had already left. A little while after coming back to the default world, I felt bad and posted trying to find the owner of said inverted to return it. The owner saw the post, and was actually in the same town as me so the inverted was returned.

That, and a magical moment on Friday of my first burn where I felt 20+ years of crushing insecurity and depression fall away and my life completely changed. But the inverter thing was still pretty cool.

[BBadger]

This was pre-playa, and I described this in some other post last year, but I'm extremely thankful for the people who helped me out when I crashed my vehicle ~15 miles out of Gerlach. Thanks to the guy who checked me out after the crash, and helped transport my stuff to the playa and dropped it off at camp. Thanks also to the guy who drove me in from the gas station after patiently allowing me to grab what I needed from the wreck that was stored in Gerlach. Those acts, among many others by friends, helped turn what was otherwise a disaster into a great week. I just hope I can be of such service in someone else's time of need.

[FIGJAM]

Thankfully you're still BBadger and NOT was badger!!!

[Blue_Bike]

Last year my playa bike was stolen on my first stop of my first ride of my first morning there. I was bummed by that in a big way for the next day or so until some random neighbors across the street from me gave me a bike to ride until the Monday after the burn. In that act of kindness towards a stranger they turned my attitude around completely and saved my burn from my own dark thoughts and self-pity. I had nothing but positive experiences for the rest of my burn. I am so grateful for that gift that I am considering bringing a spare bike this year in case I have the chance to offer the same kindness for someone who I have never met before who needs a bike of their own for whatever reason.

[BBadger]

Thankfully you're still BBadger and NOT was badger!!!

I see what you did there...

Last year my playa bike was stolen on my first stop of my first ride of my first morning there. I was bummed by that in a big way for the next day or so until some random neighbors across the street from me gave me a bike to ride until the Monday after the burn. In that act of kindness towards a stranger they turned my attitude around completely and saved my burn from my own dark thoughts and self-pity. I had nothing but positive experiences for the rest of my burn. I am so grateful for that gift that I am considering bringing a spare bike this year in case I have the chance to offer the same kindness for someone who I have never met before who needs a bike of their own for whatever reason.

It's really great when someone's act of kindness turns what could be a sour moment into something even better than it was before. Really restores faith in humanity...

[FoolsGold]

I went solo last year, which was my first. I experienced a few "What the hell am I doing here?" moments after long stretches of feeling a bit isolated. My last one was mid-week at sunset. As I was walking back from the moop fence, feeling sorry for myself, a guy and two women stepped in front of me and asked enthusiastically if I wanted to go on an adventure with them. I said "yes," partly because they seemed warm and friendly and that's what you're supposed to say, but more so because what I had been doing obviously wasn't working for me.

We walked for a bit out into the deep playa, with a little small talk and more smiles than anything else. Eventually the guy stopped abruptly and said, "We're here" with such conviction that I wondered why I hadn't realized that already. He carefully laid out a picnic blanket, and pulled out jars of peanut butter and jelly and slices of bread. We then just sat on the blanket, talked and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches until it was dark. When we got up, we hugged and walked our separate ways. It's kind of silly but true that the littlest gestures can make all of the difference. Not that it was a small gesture, mind you, as I doubt they had any idea how much they were able to lift my spirits that night and keep them lifted for the rest of my Burn.

[gbus]

Was in Camp Lamp last year and was there with a very tenuous link: essentially, my friend's brother was a friend of one of the members. The morning after arriving at 11pm, a woman from the camp brought us bloody marys. Never got her name, but it was lovely.

[gbus]

I went solo last year, which was my first. I experienced a few "What the hell am I doing here?" moments after long stretches of feeling a bit isolated. My last one was mid-week at sunset. As I was walking back from the moop fence, feeling sorry for myself, a guy and two women stepped in front of me and asked enthusiastically if I wanted to go on an adventure with them. I said "yes," partly because they seemed warm and friendly and that's what you're supposed to say, but more so because what I had been doing obviously wasn't working for me.

We walked for a bit out into the deep playa, with a little small talk and more smiles than anything else. Eventually the guy stopped abruptly and said, "We're here" with such conviction that I wondered why I hadn't realized that already. He carefully laid out a picnic blanket, and pulled out jars of peanut butter and jelly and slices of bread. We then just sat on the blanket, talked and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches until it was dark. When we got up, we hugged and walked our separate ways. It's kind of silly but true that the littlest gestures can make all of the difference. Not that it was a small gesture, mind you, as I doubt they had any idea how much they were able to lift my spirits that night and keep them lifted for the rest of my Burn.

That's brilliant