All of this is in support of your post...bravo bravo
My go to, at least in my mind is, "Connection is at the heart of our humanity." When we connect for a moment or a lifetime our/their humanity grows. In ways both large and small.
Perhaps not as profound as your reference of a struggling writer or career questions I try to engage in small random acts of connection. At a checkout I ask the cashier how ya doing? All good? There is a moment they look up and smile. I'm not there for a transaction but to connect in a small way. Will that be profound for them? Hell no but, they know they are seen and heard.
Recently having dinner with a buddy and his family a table away was a child. A little one which for the life of me guessing ages of urchins is hard. Young enough to be in a booster seat. She looked at me. I looked at her. We smiled. She giggled hid her face. And it was on. The whole meal we connected, laughed, smiled, shy'd, and more. Across a room. I went to the table and thanked the parents for the amazing gift of engagement that that kid had in abundance. They are raising a warrior. Girl Loki
In the end the kid will never remember this or me. The parents may boast for a day or two about how cute the daughter is. Word up. Me well that's an engagement connection that will be with me for a long time. It tramped down my doubts about me as a human of value. It gave me joy which can be far and few between. So the unexpected stranger we can be for others is a two way street. It can feed us.
I'm a volunteer crisis counselor and all my interactions are brief exchanges where I put my heart into every word I read or hear. I will never know if what I've done is profound (in some cases I know they were). When done chatting I try to feel I did good. Helped another connected. I may never know if I did. We may never know if we did but we must embrace measured outcomes are not the true value of connection. Connection is.
Excellent blog! Really appreciated your sharing of your "moment." All of us have them, if we are open, aware and willing to process their meaning to us. I call them butterfly nodes on our sphere of life. Moments that can, and many times do, instantly and gently change everything in our life, in a positive way. They are incredibly powerful and can facilitate a gentle transfromation in our lives, and the lives of others we inspire. Writing such a blog can provide such a moment to others. Thank you for sharing yours.
First, I loved the Blink-182 reference in the title. Second, I too feel the bigness of smallness personally and professionally. Thanks for the reminder.
All of this is in support of your post...bravo bravo
My go to, at least in my mind is, "Connection is at the heart of our humanity." When we connect for a moment or a lifetime our/their humanity grows. In ways both large and small.
Perhaps not as profound as your reference of a struggling writer or career questions I try to engage in small random acts of connection. At a checkout I ask the cashier how ya doing? All good? There is a moment they look up and smile. I'm not there for a transaction but to connect in a small way. Will that be profound for them? Hell no but, they know they are seen and heard.
Recently having dinner with a buddy and his family a table away was a child. A little one which for the life of me guessing ages of urchins is hard. Young enough to be in a booster seat. She looked at me. I looked at her. We smiled. She giggled hid her face. And it was on. The whole meal we connected, laughed, smiled, shy'd, and more. Across a room. I went to the table and thanked the parents for the amazing gift of engagement that that kid had in abundance. They are raising a warrior. Girl Loki
In the end the kid will never remember this or me. The parents may boast for a day or two about how cute the daughter is. Word up. Me well that's an engagement connection that will be with me for a long time. It tramped down my doubts about me as a human of value. It gave me joy which can be far and few between. So the unexpected stranger we can be for others is a two way street. It can feed us.
I'm a volunteer crisis counselor and all my interactions are brief exchanges where I put my heart into every word I read or hear. I will never know if what I've done is profound (in some cases I know they were). When done chatting I try to feel I did good. Helped another connected. I may never know if I did. We may never know if we did but we must embrace measured outcomes are not the true value of connection. Connection is.
So true -- it especially powerful when someone with authority believes in us and expresses it outlound.
Excellent blog! Really appreciated your sharing of your "moment." All of us have them, if we are open, aware and willing to process their meaning to us. I call them butterfly nodes on our sphere of life. Moments that can, and many times do, instantly and gently change everything in our life, in a positive way. They are incredibly powerful and can facilitate a gentle transfromation in our lives, and the lives of others we inspire. Writing such a blog can provide such a moment to others. Thank you for sharing yours.
First, I loved the Blink-182 reference in the title. Second, I too feel the bigness of smallness personally and professionally. Thanks for the reminder.