How One Becomes Many · 8:44pm Nov 27th, 2014
I ran into somebody at the store the other day - somebody I know, but don't know well. He had an awful lot of food in his cart, and after I made some joke or other about its contents, he actually surprised me and offered up a story.
When he was in eighth grade, tragedy struck his family, and they fell into some seriously hard times. Come Thanksgiving, a local charity gave them a gift package that more or less consisted of an entire Thanksgiving dinner. To this day, he told me, every Thanksgiving, he fills a cart with as much food as he can fit, and donates it all to charity. What's more, he told me that when he is gone, his daughter intends to carry on the tradition.
Apart from my admiration for his dedication to charity, I marveled at just how much good a single gift basket given to a struggling family back in 1969 continues to do for the world today.
Season Four centered around the discovery of six keys. It's generally understood, and even explicitly stated in the finale, that these keys came to be when each member of the Mane Six had their element put to the test, and rose to the occasion. But they also inspired other individuals to do good in the process, simply by acting on their own virtues. I have, in the past, cited my own personal experience regarding such acts of kindness, and how rare it is for any of us to see or understand the real reach of our own actions, but my acquaintance at the supermarket really took it to another level.
I can wax philosophical about ponies, or draw parallels between the magic of the keys and the chain of kindness that connects us to everyone we have ever been nice to, and everyone who has made a positive impact on us, but I would much rather let this anecdote speak for itself.
One Thanksgiving dinner became 45 Thanksgiving dinners and counting. Because of the power of generosity. Because of the magic of kindness.
Just like in pony, all it takes is a spark.
Your good deeds reach further than you will ever know.
-Sprocket
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Hi. I just wanted to say this was an amazing story and to thank you for sharing it.
Some might call it karma or fate or paying it forward but it is very true that the kindnesses we do this day may have far reaching effects another day, with another person in another time. I like to think of it as magic. In all my years of being here it is the only word, IMHO, that truly defines it. That spark, as Twilight said, that makes us realize that we are in the presence of something special. I think that is what drew me to watch this show, to be moved by it and become a member of this fandom.
I've tried many times to explain this feeling to others, mostly with mixed results; but a few have understood and have encouraged me in expressing myself through Pony. So yes, Friendship is Magic. It is a thing so powerful yet so subtle, what else could it be?
Anyhow, your story inspired me and I will share it with many others. Thanks for reminding me of the magic of friendship. Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have a good day!