I’m still processing my trip to Ethiopia and promise to share everything soon enough (you can find a few sneak peeks here in the mean time). It’s unfamiliar to me, this duality between wanting to spill out every word and thought and emotion, but holding back because the soup still needs time to simmer. The flavors are mixing and settling, and I want to be sure it tastes right before I serve it, you know?
Anyway, while I was out, Diana HajAhmad sent over a link to her latest project, The Compliment Fairy. A student of Stefan Sagmeister at the School of Visual Arts MFA Design, she asked herself: Can design touch someone’s heart? Her answer is a resounding yes, as is mine. Just watch.
If ever there were a time that I believed in the power of design, it is now. I mean, I just traveled overseas to meet the bravest women I’ve ever come in contact with – all because of a few scarves and an unbelievable vision for change. And along the way, I realized the beauty of simplicity: a sincere compliment, a knowing smile, a warm embrace. Language is a blessing, for sure. But for the times when words are few and communication is scarce – when language barriers arise and misunderstandings are plenty – I realize that communication has very little to do with language.
It has everything to do with kindness.
Image Credits: Diana HajAhmad
p.s. Another inspiring video to watch this afternoon.
I’m just so obsessed with you lately. Well always but even more now. It’s like you’ve been this phenomenal writer the whole time but letting your images do the heavy lifting, (beautiful lifting too) and now you’re like dropping your wisdom on us like a BOMB. BOOM BABY. I love it all. But i Love this most.
Oh Alison – this is so kind of you to say. Thank you, sweet friend.
I love this so much. Even in high school, my friends and I dressed up as fairies and drove around town. It was magical and strange.
You did NOT?! I love you.
What Alison said. Every word.
Thank you SO much, Tiffany. :) You’re warming my heart today!
Oh my…this short sweet and lovely video got me all choked up. Love love love…please do more.
Isn’t Diana a talent?
Lovely + inspiring. The look on the strangers faces—to bring such unexpected purposeless joy to other human beings—wonderful. No surprise she’s a former student stefan’s. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I love the stranger’s looks, too – it’s such a treat to be able to witness such kindness! :)
I totally get that need to process but wanting to blurt everything out. I felt similarly after I returned from South Africa. Going into the squatter camps and seeing the women who created Monkey Biz beaded animals made a huge impact on me.