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Friday, September 30, 2011

Sticky Note Campaign

A few weeks ago Jim and I had taken the Metra train to downtown Chicago. We were waiting for our homebound train in the Olgilvie Transportation Center, and I needed to use the rest room one more time before boarding the train. (I KNOW they have bathrooms on the train, but I HATE using them unless it's an EMERGENCY, you know?) So I quickly ran to the bathroom and left my purse on the table with Jim.

I got in the stall, shut the door, and a flash of paper caught my eye.

There was a yellow sticky note stuck to the back of the door. It read:

"You will have another chance tomorrow."

I grinned to myself while I contemplated these words of encouragement from a stranger. And although  I didn't feel it applied to me, on that particular day, picture if someone had gone on an interview and felt like they really blew it. Or screwed up on the job. Those words would have made an impact. 

So I left the note there for someone else to enjoy. I only wish I had brought my purse with me so that I could have taken a picture of it since I always carry my camera with me.

I really liked the whole idea of leaving anonymous sticky notes that say nice things to strangers.

So this is my quest.

I am going to make this world a better place.....one sticky note at a time!

I went out and bought some supplies:


I tucked a pad into my purse, made sure I had a pen and my camera, and I was ready to go.

We were at the laundromat and I thought, "Aha! I'll stick one on the mirror!" So I wrote one out (discreetly) and walked into the one room man/woman restroom.

Uh-oh. No mirror.

I KNOW. What kind of bathroom doesn't have a mirror?

Now what.

Do I put it on the hand dryer or above the handle on the door going out?

Well, not everyone uses the hand dryer.

Heck, not everyone even WASHES their hands.

Okay. Settled. Above the door handle.

My heart was soaring as I stuck my first sticky.


I could hardly wipe the smile off of my face as I skipped back to the table where Jim was sitting. I tried to read my magazine AND keep an eye on the bathroom door without seeming too creepy. Finally a young woman wearing a funky stocking cap went into the washroom.

I waited.

And waited.

Finally she came out.

She looked normal. Or as normal as when she went in.

Hmmmm......

Then a man used the washroom.

Finally Jim had to go to the bathroom. I asked him to look for the note. He came back and said he didn't see it.

"Really?" I said. "It's right there above the handle."

"Nope. Didn't see it."

Well, that doesn't surprise me, because many times Jim can't see things that are right in front of his face.

So I marched into the bathroom to look myself.

The note was gone!

I peeked into the garbage.

The note was crushed up.....just like my heart.

NOTE TO SELF: When you stick it, you must leave the area! You don't want to witness the outcome!

I came out of the bathroom and approached Jim.

"Well?" He asked.

"It was crumbled up and thrown in the garbage!" I hissed.

He smirked.

I leaned into him, pointing my finger in his face and said, "Just you wait. I will change this world, ONE STICKY NOTE AT A TIME!"

We had to stop at Target for a couple of things. Right before leaving the store I told Jim that I had to use the bathroom.

"I"ll meet you at the truck."

I had an ulterior motive.

Well, okay, I DID have to pee, but you know, c'mon I'm on a mission now!

I went into the bathroom, sat down, did my duty (TMI, I know) and dug through my purse for the sticky notes.

Hmmm....what to write, what to write.

"You have pretty eyes."

No! They might think someone is watching them while they, uh, you know.

Scratch that.

Okay! Got one. I wrote it down. Then I had to throw everything in my purse so I could wipe, pull up my pants, etc.

Then I stuck the sticky.

It wouldn't stay.

What the?

And this is supposed to be the SUPER sticky stuff.

Yeah right.

NOTE TO SELF: Doesn't like to work on those aluminum/steel doors. (The door in the train station was painted.) Might need to have scotch tape, too!

FINALLY got it to stick.

Now for the photo.

Wait! People are coming in. Can't be having the flash go off and the people think I'm taking pictures of my naughty bits.

Okay. Coast is clear.

Done.


Whew! This Sticky Note covert action is hard work!

Hopefully this note won't fall off and stick to the bottom of someone's shoe.

Le sigh.

Feel free to join me in my Sticky Note Campaign. Heck, who knows? I might even start a meme for this!

22 comments:

Rita said...

I love this idea!!! If you stick up 100 of them and even 90 get taken down right away--there's still the other 10, right? That just means there has to be more and more of them. Kind of like the turtles that lay hundreds of eggs so that a select few will survive. There will be others like you who will appreciate the effort. Maybe you should put them on the inside of the toilet door like they did--where they will have the time to sit and read it--LOL! If I wasn't housebound, I would join you on your post-it note quest. And bring tape in my purse! :):)

Valerie said...

It's a nice idea, Pat. My problem would be the not knowing if it helped someone. I tried leaving little cards everywhere advertising our local WI. I never knew if women took any notice :O)

CiCi said...

You are wonderful to start such a happy campaign. I have a really small roll of scotch tape I keep in the glove box in the car, so I will join your sticky note club and I will take pics for you and use scotch tape. My heart ached when you said your note had been crumpled and thrown in trash. But your determination is catchy. Count me in.

Brian Miller said...

what a cool way to touch peoples lives...i might have to get on board with this...and hey if they get crumpled along theway, oh well...next time...

Anonymous said...

this is brilliant! I love the thought of making a stranger smile....I am so gonna jump on the sticky note wagon with you....awesome :)

Kathryn Dyche said...

I love this idea, I have to admit I've left a couple of sticky notes in changing rooms that said "You Are Beautiful". Hopefully they made someone smile.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

You were already making this world a better place one post at a time and now a new project!!! I love it. It's a random act of kindness. Reminds me of people who purposely leave good books on a table in a restaurant or on a bus for someone to find and enjoy.

You're a good (wo)man, Charlie Brown. :)

Unknown said...

What a great idea! I may have to do this, too!

Furry Bottoms said...

I think that is an excellent idea. I've heard of people leaving notes like that on bathroom mirrors, and have been tempted to leave one myself. But I don't want anyone to know it was me. At all.

My heart stopped when you said you found your note crumpled and in the trash can. THE NERVE! THE GALL! Jeez.

I encourage you on this mission completely. I think I'm also inspired to go ahead and leave a note. I just don't know how to do it without anyone knowing it was me at all.

Furry Bottoms said...

I got it, my first note formulated in my mind. I am going to say "Smile, it's contagious!" Now I need to figure out how to sneak it into the bathroom. Tape and all.

Betty Manousos said...

i find it to be a brilliant idea and i loved your...mission!
making someone smile is just great!

Megan said...

I love the idea of the sticky note campaign, what a fabulous find!

Donna said...

Love this idea! Have to start doing it!
Happy weekend!!
hughugs

Kim, USA said...

I love this sticky note campaign. Had to shop for colorful sticky notes ^_^ I am in!

Anonymous said...

I've done this sort of thing before with a few friends.
It was called "operation beautiful".
http://operationbeautiful.com/

-driz
refreshsomething.blogspot.com

Historical sites with charmine said...

What a wonderful idea! Loved your story too.Good luck AND have fun.

Teresa said...

great idea! you do change the world, one post at a time. i love this idea, though.

good luck. sorry your first note hit the trash can. too bad that person couldn't have played nice.

Jeannelle said...

Good idea and story! I like your corn header, too.

Bill Lisleman said...

technobabe directed me over here.
That's a fun idea. Do you think it should be limited to restrooms? I need to check out the rest of your blog. I suspect we share the same type of humor.

terri said...

Love, love, LOVE this idea! Technobabe is spreading the word. Maybe I'll jump on the band wagon too. After all, my hubby works for the maker of sticky notes. I have plenty at my disposal! :-)

becky said...

Pat, I think it's a great idea, stick with it (no pun intended!) I recently saw a girl on the street holding a sign saying "you're beautiful,"
it made me smile. In this day & age, we need all the positive encouragement we can get. It makes a difference.

Lynda said...

That is a great, great idea! I hope a BUNCH of us copy it. I will be interested to hear more of your adventures with this.