The first time I saw him he was seated outside the bank, on a busy Sunday. He sat cross-legged on the path, talking at people as they passed him by. I watched for words laced with venom, wondering if I needed to cross the road to avoid him. Behind him was a wall of white paper, displaying his hand-drawn messages. As I got closer I looked for messages declaring the world was going to end, but instead was stopped in my tracks…
The words and pictures were of encouragement and beauty. Positive messages of hope and love. “Beautiful people,” the man said with a smile from the pavement as we passed him by. I smiled from ear to ear. Amazing. Someone spreading positivity? Absolutely amazing. And not a request for money in sight.
From that day on I saw him more often, particularly on my early morning walk. As we passed each other on the beach he’d cheer, “Morning! Beautiful girl.”
On the mornings that I’d drag Hubby {who was then my boyfriend} down to the beach he’d smile at us and greet us with, “Beautiful couple!”
We soon discovered that his name was Beautiful and he liked to spread the love. Each morning he’d walk the beach, flowers around his neck, sharing the love. I looked forward to seeing him, I always walked away feeling happy and … beautiful.
Beautiful was a little bit of a mystery, we heard that he lived at a local backpackers hostel, but nothing much more than that. Winter came, the mornings were darker and Beautiful was no where to be seen.
It’s been years since anyone has seen Beautiful in Bondi, but the rumours swirl around of his whereabouts. Some say he went up to warmer weather in Queensland {which I think is true} while others say he headed to Hollywood to seek fame {and hopefully fortune}.
Our local little newspaper, The Beast, is searching for him too, it seems he’s missed by more than me.
Have you seen Beautiful anywhere? Have you ever been to Bondi and been lucky enough to meet him?
{image taken by me of a page in The Beast}
I have never met Beautiful. What a lovely soul.
Hi Chantelle! I used to love seeing Beautiful around Bondi and stopping for a chat. I would love to know what happened to him – he really just disappeared.
I'm sure he's somewhere safe and warm.
WOW!
That's actually one of the most beautiful things I've read in a long while …
What an amazing man!
I will keep an eye out and report in if ever I find him for you (and the media)
What a lovely soul to have around though
x
Loulou
It's amazing what a few words can do to your spirit. He made an impression without making a scene.
Hopefully he is at a place where people can continue to hear his kind words.
My dodgy memory thinks that I saw him near the beach at Byron in…..um….2002?
I wish I could help out with your quest and I also wish I had come across this amazing being but alas, this will now be one of those posts that I will continually check back on hoping someone has the answer
What a lovely post, I think I have met his twin sister!! She sits outside our local supermarket in the UK every day and tells passers by how lovely they look. The 1st time it happened to me was years ago and I felt very flattered and happy. Now when I hear her say it to people I feel sure it has made their day too. Anything that makes people happy whilst going about their daily tasks can only be a good thing. BTW his twin sister is called Vivienne.
que blog mas bonito tienes y que divertido, si tienes un rato te invio a visitar el mio
un saludo desde Spain
http://karmucaycuquino.blogspot.com/
I remember seeing him in Bondi one sunny morning, but I didn't go over and now I wish I had! x
Beautiful is STILL touching people. This story made my heart smile. Thanks mama, & thanks to Beautiful~ wherever you may be!
I just finished reading a book last month called “the secret life of backpackers”. It's a true story of a journalist who backpacks from Bondi to Cairns. He meets Beautiful in the backpackers where Beautiful lives. He sits and chats with him and for a while and it is amazing. Beautiful was all about positivity and self love. I live on the Gold Coast and have never seen him here but maybe he is further north in Queensland.
What an amazing person. The world needs more people like him, spreading happiness and positivity. I hope wherever he is, he is safe and warm with a full belly.
I used to live in Bondi and would see Beautiful regularly on the boardwalk. He would cover the wall behind in beautiful images and words – all of them positive and encouraging. We chatted once. And yes, he waved me off with a “bye bye gorgeous lady”. Certainly left a smile on my face and in my mind at the memory of him.
Elizabeth Saxe Coburg-Gotha is an evil woman, why do we slave away at work our whole lives for money with her face on
I’m shocked that when google Beautiful I find my favorite blogger has written about him. I wanted to show my husband, I was telling him about my mothers friend Beautiful. When we lived Grafton {2000-20001} he lived there and became friends with my mother in the local park from memory he may have placed an ad in the paper inviting people down. He moved on to Byron as I think that was his way of life. I know his son was some thing to do with the big day out. His full name was Beautiful All. He was a very nice man, his little flat was like the wall covered in quotes little drawings.