Making connections…

Are we all so stuck in our head that we forget to look out the windows of our eyes, to let our soul see? Do you ever feel as though you are moving through life without truly participating? Do you find that you are skimming the surface, maybe occasionally sticking your head under the water to see what may lie beneath, only to life your face out just before you need that next breath?

What would happen if you stayed a little longer, looked deeper, dove deeper? Would you find comfort in the uncomfortable? Every day that you wake up you have a chance and a choice to start new. You can shake off yesterday and step into today- make of it what you want. You chose to hold the door open for another person, to say hello to a stranger and initiate that conversation. You chose to smile or not. I guess what I am driving at is the choice to make a connection, not to network though.

“Networking” is generally a selfish moment, you are looking to have a mutual gain- often in the business sense. I am all for having real conversations NOT about what you do, where you went to school, the weather, or where you live. I like the chickpeas and potatoes convo (not a big meat eater here). I want to know what makes you move, what makes you sing. I want to know if you too are happy that you took a breath this morning, I want to know you. That is uncomfortable for most people.

What is “driving” this? Most of life as a “New Yorker” is in quick interactions while stuck in transportation. Today’s interaction is from a cab ride. I talk to the cab drivers, I know this can be a little taboo, but imagine a day where all you did was have people in a rush get in your car and get upset with you for something you have no control over- traffic. So, I talk with them. Generally the conversations are amazing. Today was one about politics, the growth of “the city”, about waking up each day and being thankful for the new day, about movement and health, and about previous lives- what we do and once did.

My conversation was great! We were in mutual admiration for the ability to be awake this morning, that we both were people that believed in moving each day, and that there is a lack of people who are willing to be open enough to at least say hello and have a conversation. I was told that I had a good soul, that I made him laugh and smile, and that he rarely has someone who will actually talk- let alone say hello. His day had started at 4 am and I was the first person to actually say hello and spoke with him (the ride was at 9 am).

The last bit was sad to me, and it is something you see every day. People are so stuck in the imaginary world of their phone, or in their head that they forget to look up and look around. People walk down the street with their face illuminated by their phones, and not by the sun. They walk into other people while looking at their phone- and don’t even say sorry- missing out on that moment of forced human interaction. This should be enough irony to make it obvious that maybe we need to make changes in our actions… probably a lost hope. So here is my wish… LOOK UP and LOOK AOUND, Interact with each other- you may be the first or the last person someone speaks with.

I do understand though that it is hard to look up, to open up, to let someone know just a little about yourself. The internal is a secret, living in the imaginary world of our phone that we have created can be nice- but you have to let a little out every once and a while to let something in.

I invite you to share more of you, with those you know- and those who are new to you. To say hello, reach across the bar/table and share your ketchup, maybe to even interject into a strangers conversation if they seem lost in this big world and to offer more of yourself.

Are we all so stuck in our head that we forget to look out the windows of our eyes, to let our soul see? Do you ever feel as though you are moving through life without truly participating? Do you find that you are skimming the surface, maybe occasionally sticking your head under the water to see what may lie beneath, only to life your face out just before you need that next breath?

What would happen if you stayed a little longer, looked deeper, dove deeper? Would you find comfort in the uncomfortable? Every day that you wake up you have a chance and a choice to start new. You can shake off yesterday and step into today- make of it what you want. You chose to hold the door open for another person, to say hello to a stranger and initiate that conversation. You chose to smile or not. I guess what I am driving at is the choice to make a connection, not to network though.

“Networking” is generally a selfish moment, you are looking to have a mutual gain- often in the business sense. I am all for having real conversations NOT about what you do, where you went to school, the weather, or where you live. I like the chickpeas and potatoes convo (not a big meat eater here). I want to know what makes you move, what makes you sing. I want to know if you too are happy that you took a breath this morning, I want to know you. That is uncomfortable for most people.

What is “driving” this? Most of life as a “New Yorker” is in quick interactions while stuck in transportation. Today’s interaction is from a cab ride. I talk to the cab drivers, I know this can be a little taboo, but imagine a day where all you did was have people in a rush get in your car and get upset with you for something you have no control over- traffic. So, I talk with them. Generally the conversations are amazing. Today was one about politics, the growth of “the city”, about waking up each day and being thankful for the new day, about movement and health, and about previous lives- what we do and once did.

My conversation was great! We were in mutual admiration for the ability to be awake this morning, that we both were people that believed in moving each day, and that there is a lack of people who are willing to be open enough to at least say hello and have a conversation. I was told that I had a good soul, that I made him laugh and smile, and that he rarely has someone who will actually talk- let alone say hello. His day had started at 4 am and I was the first person to actually say hello and spoke with him (the ride was at 9 am).

The last bit was sad to me, and it is something you see every day. People are so stuck in the imaginary world of their phone, or in their head that they forget to look up and look around. People walk down the street with their face illuminated by their phones, and not by the sun. They walk into other people while looking at their phone- and don’t even say sorry- missing out on that moment of forced human interaction. This should be enough irony to make it obvious that maybe we need to make changes in our actions… probably a lost hope. So here is my wish… LOOK UP and LOOK AOUND, Interact with each other- you may be the first or the last person someone speaks with.

I do understand though that it is hard to look up, to open up, to let someone know just a little about yourself. The internal is a secret, living in the imaginary world of our phone that we have created can be nice- but you have to let a little out every once and a while to let something in.

I invite you to share more of you, with those you know- and those who are new to you. To say hello, reach across the bar/table and share your ketchup, maybe to even interject into a strangers conversation if they seem lost in this big world and to offer more of yourself.