Sammy’s mother knew this day was coming. She had long had an inkling, not quite a suspicion, that there was something special about Sammy.
There is, of course, something special about all children. Some children glow with radiant energy, some shimmer with artistic talent, some children shine with steady, ancient wisdom. Yes, all children are special in their own way, including Sammy.
But Sammy does not glow, they do not shimmer, they do not shine. No, Sammy sparkles.
When Sammy sparkles, it looks like a billion rainbow fractals dancing across the wall when the sun shines through the window just right.
When Sammy sparkles, it sounds like the loudest, proudest parade of the year, and is just as joyful.
When Sammy sparkles, Sammy is pretty sure it feels the same way their dog feels when Sammy comes home.
When Sammy sparkles, is rumored that the sparkle can be seen from space, though those reports remain unconfirmed.
Sammy’s sparkle can light up a room, and most of the time, Sammy’s sparkle helps Sammy’s friends shimmer, shine, and glow even brighter. Sammy’s sparkle reflects what is beautiful and unique in everyone around them.
But sometimes, instead of reflecting part of someone that shimmers (or shines, or glows) something else happens.
Sometimes, a sparkle reflects something else – a part of someone that is uncomfortable, or sad, or even scared.
All of these feelings happen to all of us – people who shimmer, shine, glow, or even sparkle.
Everyone has times when they feel angry or sad or uncomfortable.
These feelings, all feelings, really, are visitors – they have valuable lessons to share with us, but they are never meant to stay for too long.
However, you might suspect by now that things don’t always go as planned.
Sometimes instead of being visitors, our feelings can be like rude houseguests who overstay their welcome.
Sometimes they get real comfy right where they are in our bodies and get stuck.
When that happens, it’s a sign these feelings have something to teach us, and an invitation to learn more from them before they move on.
But sometimes, our hearts can get filled up with angry, scared, or sad ideas and messages.
If this goes on for a while, well…
You know how most superheroes have an arch nemesis supervillain?
Notice how they never sparkle? Notice how they don’t tend to glow or shimmer or shine either?
Most of them used to, but one way or another, some big feelings or hateful messages got comfy in their heart and decided to stay.
Now this is the part of the story that is kind of serious –
Sometimes, these supervillains don’t wear capes and hatch elaborate schemes to take over the planet.
Sometimes these supervillains look like normal people.
Sometimes the supervillains hide in plain sight, which can be quite dangerous, especially for those of us who sparkle.
You see, when sparkle reflects someone’s inner supervillain, it tends to be quite agitating.
An agitated supervillain can cause a lot of harm, and unfortunately, we haven’t yet found an immediate antidote to a heart full of hate.
This is the one not-so-sparkly thing about being a sparkly person – sometimes, we have to be careful about how we share our sparkle.
Sometimes, in some places, it just isn’t safe.
Now of course, it should be.
But I imagine by now, if you’re a sparkly person like I am, you might have noticed that it isn’t.
You might have noticed just how rare and special it is to have spaces where you can let your whole disco ball-self shine, and to have people who love all of you all of the time, especially when you strut your sparkle.
These people are called Sparkle Keepers, and they are like superheroes in disguise.
Just like the supervillains can look like everyday people, the Sparkle Keepers can too.
Sparkle Keepers can be people who sparkle, people who glow, people who shimmer or shine.. Sparkle Keepers can be anyone who helps keep the world safe for sparkly people.
Sparkly people can even be Sparkle Keepers too! It’s important that some of them are. But it’s important to remember we don’t always have to. Sometimes, we have to protect our Sparkle, and sometimes we have to rely on the Sparkle Keepers around us while we focus on caring for ourselves.
Now this is the important part –
Our sparkle is beautiful.
Our sparkle is magical.
Our sparkle is powerful.
Our sparkle is holy.
Our sparkle is divine.
Our sparkle deserves to be safe everywhere –
Everything that makes us unique should be safe everywhere.
The world not being fair does not have anything to do with your sparkle.
Your sparkle is a gift from your most joyful and authentic self. It comes from within you, and nothing can ever take it away.
For every super villain in the world, there are 100 Sparkle Keepers – and out of every country
in every world
in every galaxy
in all the Universe
there is only one You.
Out of all the stars in all the skies,
Your Sparkle is the only one like Yours –
and the world needs it now more than ever.
Sammy’s mother knew all of this, and she also knew it was now her job to learn everything she could about becoming a Sparkle Keeper.
She was nervous, but she wasn’t scared.
A very courageous kid had taught her a thing or two about being brave.
Blessed Be
💜
Helen "HP" Rivers 
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