#MicroblogMondays 161: People are Magic
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Kelly Wickham Hurst recently said something that stuck with me: “People are magic.” She was talking about that human impulse to insert yourself into someone else’s life, somehow at the right time, and help. But, of course, it could go the other way, too. Magic is often used to trick the senses, misdirect your attention.
That is the thought that came to mind as I read this story about the start of the BRCA1 research. It is incredible that this project, which had an inauspicious start, led to knowledge that has potentially saved life. It’s not a long piece, but it is the best example of people are magic — both in the good and bad sense — in a single story.
Read it, but don’t ruin the twist for anyone else in your comment.
And tell us about a moment of magic that someone brought into your life.
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19 comments
I think when I was almost on the verge of giving up on my current project and a sudden someone gave me the hope to carry on even if unknowingly
Thank you for sharing the article. My moment of magic was small but happened when my younger daughter was newborn and my older daughter three and grocery shopping was a delicate balancing act of who was fed and needed a nap and what kind of mood both were in. I bought my 3 year old a balloon as a bribe and realized after I had already checked out that I hadn’t paid for the $1 balloon. The baby was fussy and seconds from a meltdown, I was exhausted and the cashier’s reaction when I realized what had happened was to say she had already started checking out the man behind me and I would have to wait and then check out again. I’m sure the panic was evident on my face and I too was on the verge of tears when the man behind me, who I later realized was a local news anchor, quickly said “I’ll buy the balloon. I’d actually LOVE to buy the balloon.” I managed to thank him and get out of the store and then cried with relief. So little but so kind.
I encounter magical people all the time. Usually the good kind of magic…
I’ve heard this story (though not directly from Prof. King). It still is inspirational to every graduate student/postdoctoral who is going through a series of bad events while pursuing their research.
As an aside, she quite a person. To be a leader in STEM during a period where women were very underrepresented. Seeing her speak has been inspirational
Yes, I came across these magical people many times in my life.
Yes, I came across these magical people many times in my life.
So cool! Made me think of the magic people I have known in my life and how they gave me strength. Nothing this dramatic but still impactful. I’ve tried to be that person too: at least to do the right thing when it’s staring me in the face.
Loved that story and makes me believe that everything happens for a reason. Magic that people are 🙂
Wow! Just… wow! That was an awesome example of magic people, and I really needed to read that today. Thanks, Mel!
Oh yes those magical people! My life took many positive turns because of such people in my life. I feel blessed to have couple of them to support and guide me. Infact my attempt on today’s post is a fiction which talks about one such magical person every woman would love to have in their life!
Yes, it is magical the way sometimes things work out effortlessly for you to help someone else or someone else shows up in your life just when you need them.
My daughter. In all her five year old glory makes me remember that there is magic.
Wow! That was so magical, on multiple levels. I love the magic of the human condition – there is nothing as beautiful (except, perhaps, the magic of animals).
That was amazing! Loved it. I love those moments that really, magic is the only sane explanation. I feel that way about meeting Bryce on match.com. I was cajoled into joining by a friend, and he was cajoled into joining by a friend, and we both put up painfully honest profiles with no pictures, and we somehow found each other (I contend we NEVER would have found each other any other way). Best thing ever, miracle match.
Great story! I hadn’t heard it before.
I have an inadvertently magic person- when I was applying to do a Master’s degree, the university where I was accepted had a college system. As I learned later, the relevant administrative assistant in my department lost my application for long enough that my top choice of college was no longer accepting new graduate students. So I ended up in my second choice…which turned out to be Q.’s college as well.
I never would have met him otherwise. We toasted the chaotic (incompetent? distracted? messy?) anonymous administrative assistant at our wedding.
I don’t know if that’s a very good example, but it has always felt like magic to me.
Magic… my sweet friend from across the country, that urged me to travel to her clinic for our last shot at a baby. Pure magic, is what that was.
I’m glad I read that story. Thank you.
I don’t have anything that compares on the famous scale, but I have had a few magical people come into my life lately who make all the difference.
That is a great story. It gives me more hope for the world today. Thanks for sharing it.
Maybe Magic is a big word when you apply it to yourself, but I love to be (able to) the sparkle of someone’s day by a simple act of kindness. Indeed, like watching over a 5 year old those extra minutes before school so her mother can arrive on time at her work for once. And my four year old had company while running around. To me the magic moments speak of trust even more than help. Trust that we will all be alright 😉