I realize Mardi Gras isn’t one of the “big three” holidays. It doesn’t get the same cultural weight as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. But truth be told, it’s one of my favorite times of the year.
And yes, part of that is the food. My king cake comes straight from Randazzo’s in New Orleans. I tinker with new gumbo recipes, even though I always end up circling back to the one our family has been cooking for twenty years. And of course, a fresh bottle of Crystal hot sauce is already waiting in the pantry for the big day.
But it’s not just the flavors of Mardi Gras that keep me coming back. It’s the spirit behind it, especially one little word: lagniappe.
If you’ve spent any time in New Orleans, you know this word. Lagniappe means “a little something extra.” It’s the 13th doughnut when you buy a dozen. It’s the shopkeeper slipping an extra praline into your bag. It’s holding the door for a stranger, paying for the coffee of the person behind you, or offering a kind word when it’s least expected. It’s generosity without strings. A small kindness simply for the joy of giving.
And here’s the thing: lagniappe isn’t just a tradition. It’s a mindset. A way of living that says, “I’ll do a little more than what’s required, just because I can.”
So here’s my personal goal for this Mardi Gras season: between now and Ash Wednesday, I’m committing to one act of lagniappe each day. Nothing huge, nothing headline-worthy — just small, intentional acts of kindness.
Now imagine this with me. If the 3,000 subscribers reading this did the same, that’s 54,000 acts of unexpected kindness over the next 18 days. Fifty-four thousand extra smiles. Fifty-four thousand moments of encouragement. Fifty-four thousand reminders that the world is better when we choose to give a little more than what’s required.
I think that could change the world. Or at the very least, it could change someone’s day and that’s a pretty good place to start.
So, will you join me? Let’s make this Mardi Gras season about more than parades and king cake. Let’s make it a season of lagniappe.
Always Forward.
