Connection

by Judy

Just a few days ago I was sitting in a Doctor's waiting room, very much in my own head. Nervous and worried and gently rubbing my thumb back and forth over the tiny cross that my lovely neighbor gave me years ago, while staring at the crazy design on the carpeting under my feet. 

I looked up and I looked around at the other women sharing the waiting room with me.  I wondered - what are their stories?  Why are they here?  They all seem calm, but within their own heads, just as I was.  

I smiled at the older woman near me and I asked, "how are you"? A flood of words came out of her... about how she'd been cancer free for ten years now.  About how this radiologist was the best and had saved her life, but that she was still always worried that they might find more cancer. She asked me my story and I shared with her why I was there.  She asked me where I was from and about my family, and she told me about her oldest daughter just becoming a grandmother, and she a great-grandmother.  

When my name was called and I stood to follow the radiology technician, she reached out to me, touched my hand, smiled and said "good luck."  I responded with a smile and a "good luck to you too."  

That tiny bit of human interaction at a time that I really just wanted to withdraw into myself made me feel better.  And I truly think that I  made that woman feel better too.  I realized that I wasn't alone.  I wasn't the only one fearful and worried and needing a prayer.  

I'm not a big chit-chatter by nature.  I feel that I'm a friendly person, but find it difficult to carry on a conversation with a total stranger.  I am so glad that I looked up that day.  I'm so glad that I smiled at the woman and asked her how she was.  As she opened up I realized that she needed some human interaction.  We both needed that "we're in the same boat" feeling, and we're not alone with this.  

As children we are warned to not talk to strangers. I think we subconsciously carry this warning with us even as adults. But everywhere we go we are surrounded by people we don't know. Maybe the next time we're tempted to withdraw into our phones, or a book, or to put our earbuds in to prevent conversation, maybe we could just look around. If we took a second to smile and to ask "how are you"?, or to declare "nice day" it may be just the opening that a person needs to release some fear or worry, or to get something off of their chest.

Remember, these people we walk past every day, or sit next to in a waiting room, have names. They have families and worries and hopes and dreams.  Just like we do.  

 "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."  

  

Shine Your Light

by Kelly

A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home.  ~Unknown

It's that time of year.  Everyone in our neighborhood has their Christmas lights up.  Coming home from work in the evenings is like driving through an enchanted forest of twinkle lights.  And I turn into a six-year old child with my eyes gazing in every direction.

Next door, my neighbors put up their Christmas lights too.  A humble strand of lights draped over the dogwood tree in their front yard.  Even with all the fantastical displays down the street, every year I look forward to these lights more than any other.

The reason is right here at my kitchen window.



A little bit of holiday magic while I stand at the sink doing the dishes after dinner.  And it just makes me so happy.

It also reminds me how important it is to put up our own lights, so to speak.  How important it is to  shine our light with the world...whether it's a smile, a kind word, a hug.  Because we never know whose life we might be making just a little bit brighter.

As always, thank you for letting me share mine with you.

Love, Kelly

A Smile and a Hello

by Judy

Earlier this week I was rushing through the grocery store after work, trying to get a few last minute things for my dinner preparation.  I was in a hurry and I was tired, but as I put my items on the checkout counter I smiled and said hello to the cashier.  She gave me a huge smile back and proceeded to ring up my items.  As we bagged my groceries together and chatted, she told me that I was the only friendly customer she had had so far, an hour into her shift. 

As I walked to my car I felt sad, and I found myself start to tear up a bit as I got into my car.  It was such an easy thing to do to make that cashier's day just a little bit brighter - a smile and a hello.  I started thinking - panicking really...  I consider myself to be a friendly person, and I always try to be polite.  But I wondered - how many times have I been in my "own little world" thinking about the next thing on my to-do list, or where I needed to be next?  How many times had I unintentionally left a person feeling like this cashier had felt before I arrived?

 I thought, just like the 'just say no' campaigns, we need a 'just say hello' campaign.  Surprisingly, I found online, that Oprah has exactly that!  She has a just say hello campaign!  You can check it out here and participate if you'd like. I also found this article written by a college professor about this topic, and love that his college has a 'Say Hello' campaign in "an effort at campus self improvement."

It's such a simple, but effective way to not only connect with everyone we come in contact with each day, but a powerful way to make those people feel good!

I am certain that all of you try your best to be friendly and kind, but maybe there are times that you are rushing, or worried, or 'in your own little world' like I am sometimes.  I hope that today you will be sure to greet friends, and strangers alike, with a smile and a hello, and make someone's day just a little bit brighter. 

Small Gestures

by Judy

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."   

Some say the above quote is Plato's.  Others attribute it to Scottish author, Ian Maclaren.  To me, it doesn't matter whether it's from a Greek author and philosopher, or a Scottish author, it has long been one of my very favorite quotes, and one I try to remember as I go through my busy days.  

All of the posts this week from Terri, Kelly and Susan have spoken about kindness and of  'being the light', and my post today continues on that theme. 

I consider myself a very empathetic person.  I can put myself in someone else's shoes in a heart beat, and can be jumping for joy with them over happy news, or sobbing uncontrollably with them, or for them, over sad news.

The holiday season is a time that I always find myself really noticing those around me.  The little girl with the tattered coat.  The man with the gaping hole in the side of his shoe.  The woman with the worried look on her face as she buys her groceries.  I become acutely aware that this is not an enjoyable time for many people, and I say a silent prayer that they may find the strength to get through this time and find peace and happiness in the new year. 

I know that it is impossible to help each and every person who needs it, but I remind myself that small gestures can make a big difference. Let's 'be the light' for those who need it the most this time of year. I know that your kind hearts volunteer and donate to many different charities throughout the year, as do I, but if you're struggling to find places in your community where you can help out, or if you'd just like to do more this holiday season, I've found some great charities that really make a difference that I'd like to share with you.  

• The Christmas Tree Project, which collects and donates Christmas trees, decorations and gifts.  You can find them at thechristmastreeproject.org
• The Every Cork Counts Campaign.  Gallo Family Vineyards, gives $5 for each cork they receive to Meals on Wheels Association of America.  You can find them at gallofamily.com/every-cork-counts
• Share Your Soles accepts all kinds of gently worn, or new shoes and warm boots.  Visit them at shareyoursoles.org
• Scarves with a Purpose collects your handmade scarves and mails them to low-income schools, homeless shelters, and other groups.  They can be found at scarveswithapurpose.com
• One Warm Coat works to help the 15% of Americans who can't afford a warm coat.  Visit them at onewarmcoat.org 

Wishes to all of you for a happy holiday season, and may your days be merry and bright!

Because Kind Words Have Power

by Kelly

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless ~Mother Teresa

It was was a drive-by blessing….a random act of kindness.  On Saturday, my daughter called to tell me that the car in front of her paid for her Starbucks.  It was the first time this has ever happened to her and she was so touched and so grateful.

I think we all have similar stories of being touched by another's kindness and the accompanying feeling of gratitude.  Even here on the blog, many of us have shared our own stories about thankfulness.  How the simple process of paying attention and counting our blessings has changed the way we see life.  How the practice of gratitude has made our lives richer and fuller.  And that in and of itself is a wonderful thing.  But it was never meant to stop there…Gratitude is meant to go full-circle.

From our blessings, we can bless others.  And random acts of kindness are indeed a wonderful way to pay it forward.  I would also like to offer that we can extend kindness is many ways…and I think there is no more powerful way to bless others than with kind words.

Thank you.  You’re doing a great job.  Way to go.  I can tell you worked really hard on this.  I’m here for you.  You got this.

Words have power.  Words matter.  And like Mother Teresa said, we should not doubt the ripple effect of a kind word.

It’s not easy.  I’m the first one to admit that when someone gets snarky with me, I’m likely to snap right back.  But what if my first response was one of kindness?  More like “Yey, I can see you’ve had a bad day…let’s start over.” Or sometimes, on those occasions when we have to have difficult conversations.  Although the words might be strong, they can still be kind.  I’m willing to bet that those who deserve kind words the least, probably need them the most.

So this month let’s give our gratitude some legs….let’s practice kindness as well.  And while we pay for the coffee of the person behind us in line, maybe we could also offer some kind words to the dippy drive-through gal who gave us a macchiato when we asked for a latte.  Or maybe offer some encouragement to a person who clearly needs someone in their corner.

There is power in gratitude.  There is power in kindness.  Together they can change the world.

With love and gratitude,
Kelly