By Tracy Wimmer, a former teacher who hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She currently works as a guide in Alaska – a place where she sees lots of grizzlies, but few unicorns.

Obstacles make me stronger. That is a philosophy I have always tried to follow. But…not that night. Two weeks before Christmas and the only word I could think of was, “Overwhelmed!”

Family health challenges, family dog passing blood, exam the next day, but the professor was closing all notes and reviews at midnight, icy road forecast for the morning, and on top of all that, I realized that we needed groceries… So out I went into a dark, cold rain.

Aldi‘s was a bust, so I zoomed across the street to Kroger‘s. And wouldn’t you know it…same. Still, I took what I could find to the self-checkout and found myself no less than thirteen customers back.

Most of the time I get creative when I have to wait like this. As a matter of fact, the day before, standing in line with what felt like 46,000 people at TJ Maxx, I had grabbed a bag of biscotti and shared it with people around me – a habit I had picked up in Alaska during long road construction delays on the Glenn. (Get out of the car and meet people … and share your snacks.)

However, not this night… I. Was. Drained. (and I guess it showed.)

Just as I scanned the last item, this giant of a man with reddish hair and a thick, red beard, walked over to me. He was grinning. He was carrying this humongous white, stuffed unicorn…with a gold horn.
“Hey,” he said, “It looks like you could use a unicorn.” (Yes, those were his exact words.) Shocked, I looked around. A lot of folks were watching.

“Uh…Me?” I said. “Yeah, you!” he answered – still grinning. “Um… That is so sweet of you,” I said. “Oh my gosh. But I really couldn’t – but thank you. Thank you so much!” He didn’t budge. “Of course you can! Take it! I want you to have it… Seriously.”

And for a skinny minute – my mind raced … Did this man want me to join his cult – the Unicorn Cult?! Had he just stolen this thing from the toy section at Ross For Less? Maybe he’d seen me throwing a little fit in the coffee aisle, and … wait! Was this man attracted to me?!

A smallish woman with shorn, white hair was behind me in one of those motorized carts. She said. “Honey! Take the unicorn! It’s beautiful! Just take it!” She looked very wise. What could I do? I took a deep breath, dropped my bags – and I walked over to the guy.. and grabbed my white unicorn.

Then I asked him if I could hug him. He said “Yes” and as I was hugging him – and the unicorn – I began to cry. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I really needed this tonight.” With a smile, he responded, “I know you did.” He smiled… and then he walked away.

Okay, okay… I know this entire story smacks of a Hallmark Christmas movie, and truth be told, I’m a sucker for those stories – at least the first fifty or so. But alas! It was not to be.

Because as I was walking out, planning my wedding to this red-headed stranger, cradling that unicorn on my hip like a child, someone was trying to get my attention. It was a tiny man, sitting on a stool next to the door. The patch on his sleeve read: “Security.”

“Oh, you got one too?” he said. “Too? Huh? What do you mean – too?” I said. “That guy – I’ve seen that guy hand out a bunch of those unicorns tonight. You’re the first woman though.” My unicorn and I left the building.

‘Long story short – we’re not getting married. I don’t even know who the reddish-haired guy is. But, what I do know is this – I couldn’t stop smiling.

Fast forward, every time I walk by that unicorn – I find myself grinning. I know. It’s schmaltzy – but it’s true. People are amazing.

PS – Take the Unicorn.

PPS – Give the Unicorn.

Jen Bailey

Hi! I’m Jennifer Bailey and I partner with entrepreneurs who have massive ideas that could change the world. Most marketing is meaningless. Filled with empty promises, its only job is to bring in new traffic, new leads, and new customers. But I’ve drawn a line in the sand, and I’ve learned that marketing can do so much more than reach business goals and build profit. My methods give businesses the fire and soul they need to reach the right people, set the groundwork for sustainable relationships, and offer true value to the people on both the giving and receiving ends of marketing.

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