You know those Dr. Rick Progressive commercials, the ones that say, “Don’t become your parents.” The premise being once you buy a home, you start doing older-parent-type things.

Examples: When there’s a person calling out names on coffees on the counter at the coffee shop that haven’t been picked up yet. Or telling the person in front of you in the grocery how to efficiently pack their grocery bags.

My lame-o descriptions are doing them a disservice because they are HYSTERICAL.

I don’t want to admit how long I’ve been saying, “I’m like those people in the Progressive commercials!” when I am out and about doing my thing.

What I realized of late: it’s not true.

I am not doing the random things those old-people-parents do. I’m noticing things that spark joy and I tell the joy-sparkers as much.

• Like the barista’s earrings the other day. They were fab. I told her.
• The bagger at the grocery yesterday was named Parker. Parker is one of my favorite names. I told him as much.
• The event organizer at a networking event who radiated posh, powerful, connector energy. I told her. I felt it.

I could go on and on and on about the noticings and the commentings. I do it a lot.

The looks of surprise, the smiles, the little bursts of joy that I get on the other side of my random commentary always make me smile back.

Perhaps you’re assuming my next line is…”That’s not why I do it.”

WRONG! THAT’S EXACTLY WHY I DO IT!

I’ve come to realize one of my basic modes of life is the JOYOUS take on “see something, say something.” See something good, heck, tell ‘em you see it!

Why do we keep it in?

Why don’t we tell more randos what we appreciate about them? (In a reasonable, non-creepy way, people.)

You know the saying, “If a butterfly flaps its wings on the other side of the world…does it cause a tsunami?” (Paraphrasing. 😜)

The little things can set the big things in motion.

I’m dubbing them

butterfly breezes 🦋

When the big things seem REAL BIG and out of our control, the little things seem doable.

During a “Pat Chat” with my mom (when I shoot the shit with my mom, Pat, but Pat doesn’t like swearing hence “Pat Chats”) she shared that at church the other day, someone tucked her hanging out label back into her sweater. Then on the way out, someone helped her with her jacket.

Little things. Flaps of those butterfly wings.

My friend Kirsten told an amazing story yesterday (when we were shooting the shit). It was the old–no overhead bin space, trudge your bag back to row 234234, swim upstream to get back to your seat, knowing you’re going to have to swim back when you touch down–tale of travel woe.

Well…there was no trudge back on flight 432 to DC! No sir! Kirsten was waiting to head back to procure her suitcase when a small man came up to her and said, “Special delivery!” He’d seen her. Saw her bag. Grabbed that bag and brought it up from the way back. SPECIAL DELIVERY.

Is there anything better than that?

There’s not.

Flaps of the wings.

Butterfly breezes.

Not to get all new year 2026 on you…but my quick preview is that I’m bringing some BIG STAGE ENERGY UP INTO THIS YEAR. BSE MY FRIENDS. (You heard it here first!)

There’s a time for the BSE.

There’s also a time for the small energy. Noticing the tiny impacts people have on you. Being a bit intentional about the impact you’re having on people.

As we start the new year, my invite to all of us is to be intentional about the small things. Bring some intention to noticing the butterfly wing moments–the ones you’re inspiring, the ones you’re receiving.

Perhaps 2026 can be the year of BSE…and butterfly breezes.

Let’s do this, people!