Yesterday was Sussy Day, and I am still smiling about it all. We started this project 6 months ago with big visions and fantasized ambitions. Pete and I both come up with all sorts of amazing ideas and then the reality of our lives and what we can actually accomplish comes crashing down. Yesterday was no different.
We started the day on IndyStyle. Pete was co-hosting, a duty he does from time to time. And we filmed a segment about The Sussy Project to air between 9-10am on WISH-TV December 26th. Tune in to see our 5 minutes of fame! We are really hoping that it helps get the word out about The Sussy Project and encourage more nominations. (Remember, you can nominate someone by emailing us at info@thesussyproject.com).
From there, Pete and I met at Starbucks. Our first plan for Sussy Day was to buy people coffee at Starbucks. We loaded up a gift card and worked with the incredible team at Starbucks to ensure that people’s orders were paid for by us anonymously. We sat inconspicuously in the corner, watching as people found out that their coffee “had been taken care of.” The smiles on people’s faces were measurable. Which is exactly what we wanted – surprising people with kindness.
watching reactions from afar...
One man ordered his coffee, found out he didn’t have to pay and didn’t respond in any sort of gratitude to the Starbucks man. But then in walked a man who is now forever in my heart. Whether he is homeless or not, he walks the streets of Indianapolis with pride and purpose. And as he stood at the back of the line, counting his change to make sure he had enough for his order, I could feel my heart swell. He ordered. He was told it had been taken care of and this man’s reaction was just the most sincere display of joy I have seen. “This is just wonderful! How wonderful!” he exclaimed over and over. He maneuvered to wait for his coffee and talked with another man who’s coffee was free and they both discussed how great it was. And then my tears started. Pete told me I would blow our cover if I cried, but I couldn’t stop myself. This man carried that cup of joe around like a prized possession. We watched from the windows as he talked with others on the street about his free coffee. He got to keep his change for something else. He had a defined hop in his step as he walked away from Starbucks. He is the epitome of The Sussy Project. That man. How could you NOT be inspired to give sussies after meeting him?
After the gift card ran out, Pete and I went to plan B. We both had $50 of ones in our pockets. We planned to walk through downtown Indy during lunchtime and hand out ones. There was no catch. No speech. Just random giving. But what we didn’t anticipate was how awkward and uncomfortable this would be. Both for the givers (us) and the receivers. As I reached out with a single dollar bill, I said “We are handing out dollars today. Have a good day.” Most people took the bill with caution, waiting for us to follow up with some requirement. And when we kept walking, hopefully, they smiled, but we aren’t really sure. One woman flat out refused Pete’s hand out. We just didn’t predict how weird this would be, but we should have. When is the last time that someone offered you something without wanting something in return? Aren’t we programmed to believe that there is no such thing as a free lunch? And had it just been our awkwardness, Pete and I would have soldiered on. But we were making others uncomfortable too. So we aborted mission after about $25. We realized that being anonymous was easier on everyone and still achieved the goal of making people smile. So back to Starbucks we went. Another $65 on a gift card and back to our respective corner. The Starbucks team was really getting into it. One guy, who we called our elf, pitched the message perfectly. He said “Your coffee has been taken care of.” “There is still good in this world.” “Maybe you can consider paying it forward some day.” We just watched and listened. And the smiles on people’s faces warmed our hearts.
so inconspicuous as we watch from afar
It’s a good thing that Pete is not just my friend and partner at TSP, but also my financial planner. Because I could really spend every spare dollar of mine doing this. It’s amazing to see people surprised with kindness. And I bet that more than a few of them will listen to what the elf said and pay it forward. After Pete left to make an appointment, I sat and reflected on Sussy Day. I thought about how we helped make people’s days. Some who really needed the help, like my favorite little old man. Some who without a doubt make more money than I do. But it’s not just about helping those in need. It’s about being thoughtful. About thinking of others. About wanting to make people smile and inspire kindness. That’s The Sussy Project, ladies and gentlemen. That’s what Pete and I get geeked up about. And that’s why I unloaded all my cash onto Starbucks counter as I departed and asked to load up that giftcard one more time. This time it was me that left with a hop in my step.
Thanks, Starbucks, for playing along
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What is a sussy? | Pete The Planner
[...] of this past week we held Sussy Day. It was far and away the best manifestation of The Sussy ...
Is it weird that I got teary just reading about the elated man with his coffee? I don’t think I could have kept it together if I was there in person!
You’re not weird. It was awesome. Meggie didn’t mention that he tried to order a small coffee with his change, and the barista gave him a GIANT coffee on us. It was great!
WOW!! Such a great idea! A friend pointed out your website to me and I was so glad she did. All growing up my mom would bring us little treats for no reason and she called it a Sussie! (Spelled different, pronounced the same). For the past 6 years, I have had a scrapbooking website called Scrapbook Sussies. While I just closed up shop this last September, you can still see it and read about how it came to be! Glad to hear you’re using the word in it’s true form and you’ve inspired me to try the same thing! It sounds wonderful!!!
We are so glad you found us too!
Meg and Pete I can’t begin to tell you how very, truly inspiring you BOTH are.. In my world I believe coincidences are extremely rare occurances.. Meaning that by far those occurances of which I speak are meant to have happened, are no mistake or fluke, and are intended to have occurred when and just how they did.. With that said, I believe my crossing paths with you all at this very moment is no coincidence either.. I’ll not bore you droning on with the long details but In essence what just occurred could not be more paradoxical if even plotted and planned..
The very word with which you all have built this entire extremely POSITIVE premise around.. The word “sussy” is what set me off, unknowingly at the time, headed in your direction.. But for much different and opposite reasons.. Reasons that could not be more opposite from the Ultimate of Positives that you’ve created, but rather negative, mean spirited, and even hateful use of this beautiful term, “sussy”.. Yes, the search I was doing thru twitter was for someone who had taken this beautiful term and used it as their own as a moniker.. A PERSON’s whose actions, behaviors, words were used to “hurt” others, to inflict humiliation and embarrassment on others, to exploit others.. All of this done for pure selfish gain and self satisfaction..
And all in the beautiful name, “sussy”.. So, you see in my searching to read about this negativity this person spews and spreads and undoubtedly I know had I reached my intended target of my twitter search that I, too would have been negatively impacted by this persons words, intentions, and actions.. But instead, at this very moment I find you two.. You two who could NOT be a more perfect match with this beautiful word, “sussy” that you’ve found a way to intertwine this beautiful notion of giving of ones self in you guys everyday lives.. You’re beautiful people in every sense of the word beautiful.. Your inner light shines through your words on the pages of your blog and you bring heart warming, tears streaming ones cheeks, beautiful smiles to perfect strangers faces..
Today I was that perfect stranger that’s face was brought a heart warming smile.. Today I was the one to receive a “sussy”.. A sussy from two beautiful people who unknowingly brought a smile to this perfect strangers face today.. As i said from the start I believe coincidences to be extremely rare and without a single doubt I know for certain that this NOT a coincidence in my finding you all..
All I can say is Thank You and I hope that in some way I too am able to Pay It Forward..
Thankfully grateful,
Jessica
Jessica, Thank you for your amazing comments. It was such a perfect surprise to read and I am so glad that you found us. Our project is so simple, yet we have big ambitions. We hope that more people like you stumble upon us and continue to live a life of sussies. We think they are the most wonderful. I hope whoever uses the word Sussy in a negative sense can be trumped by those of us who don’t. And please let us know of anyone who we should pick as a recipient. You can email us at info@thesussyproject.com.