Texting for humanity

A friend recently told me about a texting switchboard called Text for Humanity. 

The idea is that once you join (for free), you can text a positive message to a stranger at any time, and get a positive message from another stranger in return.

I signed up a few days ago and have sent and received three messages so far:

From me to someone: All that emotion you feel? It's because you care. And caring is a beautiful thing. Thank you for how much you care.

From Andrea to me: You are the only person that can control your happiness and success! Be all that you can be! You are amazing! I hope you have a great day!

From me to someone: Don't forget to breathe. Like real, deep breaths. You deserve that peace. You deserve that clarity. You deserve to know your own wisdom.

From Jenni to me: Make today so awesome, yesterday gets jealous!

From me to someone: Whatever it is, you can get through it. And not only survive, but thrive. You were born for the greatness that is on the other side.

From Ginyah to me: You are important, beautiful, smart and worth more than you realize. Smile and enjoy your day.

I could imagine someone thinking, quite reasonably, that this is totally ridiculous. I don't know these people, and they don't know anything about me. How could words delivered to a random stranger make any difference? 

Indeed, if I'm honest, there wasn't anything very magical for me about these exchanges. I thought the messages were sweet, and it was fun to be surprised, but I didn't have any of those, "WOW, that was JUST what I needed to hear right now!" kinds of moments.

Still, I am kind of smitten with the concept.

Not because it's likely that other people's specific words will make a difference for me, but because it gives me an easy opportunity to practice asking for and receiving help. Perhaps even more importantly, it invites me to access my own love and compassion, and generate for myself the words I need to hear. 

The fact that they also get delivered to someone else is, it seems to me, just a secondary bonus. And a reminder that we are not alone in our human need for encouragement, care and connection.

What do you think? Do you have any interest in trying this out?

If you could give yourself (or someone else) a 160-character pep talk today, what would it be? I’d love to hear.