Sometimes I find the greatest insight, the most clarity, and the simplest wisdom in the words of a children’s book.

I was reminded of this story (The Mimpins) while working on the feature article from our last issue of The Giraffe Effect about Mike Adams. He has a picture of these words on his own Instagram page (@mike_adams75) and they so perfectly describe the mission of Giraffe.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, written by the great children’s author Ronald Dahl, it’s about a boy named Little Billy, who defies his mother to enter the magical forest behind his house. She fears the monster in the forest will get him, but he goes in anyway. After being chased up a tree by the monster (that really does exist), he discovers The Mimpins (a whole word of tiny beings that live inside the trees). The Mimpins have forever been terrorized by the monster, so Billy hatches a plan to save them. He sticks his neck out to protect these creatures that he just met and a forever friendship is born. Just like magic.

This reminder to me is not just about being there for others, whether we know them or not. It’s not just about having the courage to face the unknown, even when we’re told not to. And it’s not just about believing in the magic that surrounds us. The greatest reminder that these poetic lines bring me, is to believe in the magic within myself. Because when I believe in me, the world will be the beneficiary. Mike reminded me of this as I learned more of his journey to find the magic within himself.

Today my hope for you is that you’ll “…above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

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