Kindness matters
The other day, I was on a run in Auburn, Maine, enjoying my favorite fall weather, when things took a turn for... well, bizarre. I was jogging along, thinking about my next wedding, when I noticed someone walking toward me. At first, I thought they were really into face paint—like, really into it. But as I got closer, I realized, nope, this was no face paint. It was a full-on evil clown mask. You know, because that’s totally normal at 4 p.m. on a Tuesday. To make the scene even weirder, they were casually holding a Nerf gun in their left hand. Just out for a little Nerf battle, I guess?
I’m going to be honest—I was creeped out. This was a few notches above “fun Halloween prank.” But I thought to myself, “Okay, it’s probably just some early Halloween enthusiast getting a head start,” even though the holiday was still a solid six weeks away. So, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to be the friendly runner and said, “Hello” in my most cheerful voice.
They slowly turned their head toward me, eyes full of creepy, evil clown energy, and gave me a look that said, “You need to run, and fast.” So I ran. Faster than I’ve ever run in my life. When I finally stopped, gasping for air, my lungs burning, I realized I hadn’t been followed. I had survived my strange encounter with Nerf Gun Clown, and all was well.
The next day, I was telling my best friend about it, and she laughed and said, “Of course you would be the one to say a friendly hello. You know, not everyone does that.”
And that got me thinking: sometimes we don’t even realize the things we do are unusual because they feel so normal to us. For me, saying a cheerful hello to someone—even someone in a clown mask—is just who I am. I genuinely care about people. I want everyone, even the creepy clown, to feel seen and valued. Maybe it’s my belief that every person is an image-bearer of Christ, or maybe it’s just that I have a habit of thinking the best of people, no matter how terrifying they look.
When I was younger, my parents nicknamed me Cheer Bear (yes like the Care Bear) because of how cheerful I was. That cheerful spirit shines through in everything I do. When I meet with couples for the first time, I often hear things like, “You’re so kind,” or “I feel like you really understood us.” But it’s more than just kindness—it’s about genuinely seeing you and everyone important to you. I’m not just focused on the details; I’m focused on the people who make those details matter. Whether it’s making sure your grandparents are comfortably seated or helping a vendor get things just right, I’m always looking for ways to uplift everyone involved because, at the heart of it, I simply love people.
So, if you’re looking for a planner who’s ready to lift your spirits and take away your stress, I’m your girl. I’ll be there to hand you a tissue, offer a comforting word, and keep things light and joyful—even in the most unexpected moments. I bring enthusiasm, gratitude, and a cheerful heart to every wedding, making sure your day is as wonderful as it can be—no clown masks required!
If this all resonates with you, reach out to me today! I will greet you with a cheerful hello and do my best to uplift you!
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