As the Paradigm Shifts | The Benny Baxter effect: Becoming nobody special

||| AS THE PARADIGM SHIFTS by ROSIE KUHN |||

My kitchen sink drain finally clogged to the point that nothing was getting through. It was like an artery to the heart, so blocked with gunk that nothing could pump. Disaster. I went to YouTube, found what I needed, and gathered the ingredients: baking soda, vinegar, hot water, and a plunger — just in case. After following the directions, everything stayed at a standstill. I repeated the process several times. I could see the bubbling up of gunk — there was action, but no movement.

I brought out the plunger. It stirred more gunk up, but the water in the sink didn’t budge. Then I realized — go figure — my sink has two drains. As I plunged one side, watery sludge oozed up on the other. Yuck. Maybe I needed one of those drain cleaning cables, or snakes, that pushes through the clog. It was time to call Benny. Benny has a tool for everything. He loves fixing what’s broken. Most importantly, he’s a good friend — always willing to help in a pinch.

“Benny,” I said, “do you have a snake for drains?”

I explained what I’d tried and that I might need to take it to the next level. After much discussion about the what’s and wherefores, we decided he’d come up the next day and set things right. Still, I figured I’d try one more time. The gag reflex was kicking in, because the sight of my sink was gross, to say the least. I held the drain stopper down with one hand and awkwardly used the plunger with the other, and — Ta-da! The pressure broke through. The sink returned to normal. After a bit of scrubbing, it looked shiny and approachable once again.

But this story isn’t about my kitchen sink. It’s about The Benny Baxter Effect.

Benny as Nobody Special

Nine times out of ten, when I’m struggling with something, I call Benny for help—just making the call makes things right. It’s uncanny. And every time, I’m surprised. Benny is about as regular a guy as you can find. In the grand scheme of things, he’s nobody special — and he chooses to stay that way.

But here’s where it gets interesting.

Three or four decades ago, Benny’s wife took a class on intuition and psychic development.  Benny tagged along to one of the sessions and had a wild experience. He saw energy. He felt it. He could move it. It scared the bejeezus out of him!

Benny was afraid that if people found out about his abilities, the multitudes would overwhelm his life. And worse — like Jesus — that having such a gift could put his life and his family in danger. So, he shut it down.

In his own quiet way, though — especially while soaking in his hot tub — Benny still plays with energy. He’ll imagine people he loves, surround them with colors and warmth, and gently send support their way. Just for fun. He doesn’t know if it makes a difference. He’s not trying to prove anything. It’s just something he does. So, when I call Benny, things often shift — even before he lifts a finger.

That’s The Benny Baxter Effect.

Benny’s not doing anything. He’s not trying to fix, heal, or be somebody special. He forgets — just like I do — that he seems to have this remarkable ability to affect things even when he’s not trying. He’s just being Benny. And that makes us both laugh with joy.

I Don’t Expect Magic
I don’t know if the Benny Baxter Effect works for other people. I’ve never asked. And I never expect that just by calling him, magic will happen.

Most of my 3-D problems — clogged sinks, computer glitches, Spring repairs — don’t requiremagic. They just need a second pair of hands. But when I’m stuck in the belief that I can’t do this on my own — when I feel like I need help — a call to Benny. Even if he doesn’t know how to fix the problem, something shifts! Suddenly I say, “Oh! I got this!” or, “Wow! It’s working now!! Magic!

That’s The Benny Baxter Effect.

The Sacred Art of Becoming Nobody Special

The Benny Baxter Effect isn’t really about Benny. And it’s not about magic, either.It’s about what happens when someone shows up without trying to be anything more than whothey are. When someone carries no agenda, no need to impress, no desire to prove they’re helpful or wise or good. Just presence. Just Benny being Benny. That’s what shifts things.

There’s something quietly sacred about being in the company of someone who isn’t trying to do anything — just being with me as I face what’s in front of me. It unhooks the part of me that’s scrambling to fix or control. It makes room for something softer — for breath, for possibility, for clarity to rise in such a way that magic happens. Badda Bing Badda Boom!!! Benny doesn’t do that on purpose. But the effect is real.

It’s not that he’s nobody. It’s that he’s nobody special. And that changes everything.  In a world obsessed with being “somebody,” it’s easy to miss the quiet power of those who aren’t trying to stand out — those who show up, listen, care, and hold space without needing recognition or applause.

That’s what Becoming Nobody Special is about.

It’s not about disappearing. It’s not about playing small. It’s about letting go of the identity that says I have to be special to matter. Or, that I have to do something to be special. Because the truth is — the less we try to be something, the more we become available for what’s real, what’s needed, what’s already here. Like Benny. Just being himself. Just showing up. No magic wand, no cape, no spotlight. And yet — the effect is unmistakable.

The Benny Baxter Effect is a reminder to me that sacred service doesn’t always look like sacrifice, sainthood, or spectacle. Sometimes sacred service looks like a guy sitting in a hot tub, who sends energy and colors across the globe, because it makes him smile.

So, the moment I stop trying to be special, I start to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. I become available to life in a whole new way. And somehow, things begin to unclog — in the sink, in my heart, in my stories.

That’s real magic. Not becoming someone extraordinary —but becoming someone real, present. Well … becoming nobody special.