Tag: connection

What treasures did you find this year?

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BEFORE YOU READ THIS….please read my last January Post https://yourhappyplaceblog.com/2024/01/

THEN….you can actually answer this question to your fullest.

WHAT TREASURES DID YOU FIND THIS YEAR? As I ask myself this question and I immediately gravitated to LOVE LETTERS TO MYSELF that I have been writing ONLY since September. For me, seeking a deeper connection with something greater than myself has been a need, I should say longing. When you begin to ask a simple question and then just write what comes to you…its like a secret portal for the soul. Its like another layer to your own story. For me, there is magic in finding the hidden places within yourself. There is a necessary connection to a higher place when you have this knowing that there is more beyond your own stories you tell. There is something greater beyond what you can see and feel and a knowing that you are just a conversation away from that existence. It is a gift. I highly suggest you try it.

Another treasure that I would say….LONG-DISTANT LOVE….TIME WITH THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT. This comes in two-fold. My little family got into a job crisis that caused my sweet husband to pick up and move to a different state so we could financially survive. At one point this year—-I was in one home on the Oregon Coast, my daughter in her apt a couple hours away on her college campus and my husband in an apartment in Montana. Talk about long-distance. We have all been living separate lives, which has been life-changing and also eye-opening. My husband didn’t truly appreciate living in Oregon & his time on the coast–he genuinely just wanted to move back to Utah. Now, he lives in Montana and now talks about just needing to get back home, to Oregon. Sometimes we have to truly lose something to genuinely appreciate it, right? Well, the three of us have been home all together for the holidays. It has been weeks of quality time, laughs, memories, moments creating memories, lots of movies, games and time together. We constantly just keep saying how nice it is to be all together. We are cherishing this time because in a couple of weeks we will all be alone again (my daughter doing a study exchange in France, husband back to work in Montana) and having our long-distance relationships. I don’t think you REALLY appreciate those closest to you until they are gone…or at least…at a distance for a period of time. IF anyone out there is not feeling the love for those closest to you—-maybe take an extreme route and have an extended period of time away to truly find your feelings…to unearth the treasures that you have lost.

The other gift—MY DAD…almost losing my Dad to a five-valve bypass of his heart. He was a walking dead man..that survived. I looked at a picture of him taken for Christmas and thought, “he was almost not even here for that moment…that picture.” Since I am out of the state I flew in to spend some time with him after the surgery. Talk about life-altering. My Dad has always been the picture of health drinking his “green juice” every morning with his supplements, playing pickle-ball with guys half his age, so really he could have probably been gone a long time ago if he had not taken such care for himself. Good for you, Dad!! My Dad has always been the spark that ignites the fun in the family. The guy who works so hard to get family together to make those connections. He has been the one who strives to make it to grandkids recitals or swim meets or soccer games. He truly enjoys his family and those connections. They are his treasure and we almost lost him!! He is the families treasure and we are so grateful to still have him around.

OH, LOLA….This was definitely a treasure and a heart-break. To see the genuine love and care that my husband gave to our beloved dog at the end of her life. To see him sacrifice and clean and wrap her decaying body that was being savaged by cancer and just love her through so deeply. I have seen my husband take care of both of his Dads at the end of their life and I know the great, sincere care he gives, but to see his genuine, deep love for our dog was another level. I watched him with such admiration and bravery as we all escorted one another to the vet to say goodbye. It tore my little family apart. We were all in such tears of despair. To see my daughter so bravely handle such a hard situation, I will never forget. She was stronger and braver than me. I couldn’t be so brave. It was an incredibly heartbreaking day, but our family was there together. The treasure was giving so unconditionally to this little dog that loved so deeply. A dog that my husband didn’t want in the beginning (four years earlier) was now a dog that he has cherished and loved on another level. It was so good to witness such love….that was a treasure. Our Lola…such a gift.

LIVE WITH INTENTION…Learning to be more intentional in all I do from one of our sweet 90 something neighbors who takes time to HANDwrite long cards, she says thank you for every little detail of a gift you give (even down to a banana), she takes yarn and has special knots she ties to make handmade ornaments. She lovingly puts little pieces of herself in all she does. I have boxes of little details she has made that I don’t dare get rid of because I have never met anyone like her. She is a treasure. Thank you beautiful, Patty. You are an incredible example to ALL around you. xoxo

Another treasure—LOTS OF LITTLE MOMENTS that CREATE BIG MEMORIES. Seeing my daughter look up at a giant Redwood tree this year in awe. Watching my daughter laugh with her Dad at funny videos on social media. Walking through the forests where we live and walking strand lines of the ocean together. Seeing my husband so excited to take out tumbled agates after they have been rock polished. Looking at pictures of our beloved dog, Lola that we lost and will never forget. Taking my brothers ashes to the ocean and having them blow back at me into my hair. Love you, Scotty. You will always be with me. haha. Always reading loving letters from my little family. The sincere happiness my husband shared with me in videos, photos and enthusiasm over the phone with his many beloved fishing trips in Yellowstone this summer or his joy at a new pop-up camp tent to make his weekend campouts alone bearable. Finding and seeing JOY in those you care about—priceless gem. My sweet husband giving me one of my beloved childhood stories (The Velveteen Rabbit) and then being able to read it to my daughter this holiday season while she was sick. Lying by myself on the wet, golf tee box and looking straight up into the sky with a prayer and seeing a bird so high up in the sky. It was a beautiful moment to feel like what it would be like looking down from heaven (a very big—I see you moment) . Walking the beach with my Jonny when he is home is a priceless gift and treasure—I appreciate it even more now. Just time together is more appreciated, whether its simply driving to get gas or walking a thrift/antique store together. Seeing the colorful northern lights from the coast with my little family and taking fun photos. Having sunrise and sunset moments with my daughter over the past few months I will always cherish. Seeing my daughter’s excitement and hearing her happiness as she experienced so many different places in the world this year—Her independent adventures & day trips that brought her such happiness—sea shells & big outdoor showers in Fiji…the smallest dolphins, blue penguins, fur seals and Mtn hikes in New Zealand, so many moments & places in France with someone she loves…so many memories of her pure Joy! So memorable. Watching baking shows together and having our family Survivor binge watches are always great treasured time together. Having my daughter break down in tears after I surprised her with a decorated Christmas tree in her room (knowing she had no time to decorate) Watching my sweet daughter mature and grow in her relationships with friends, family and falling in love. Its amazing to see such growth from those you care so deeply about. My sweet dog, Teag that makes me feel so loved and cared about (he has been a huge help when I am all alone) & the little moments when we literally stretch together each morning. Having sincere conversations with my brother and feeling like I am a safe place for him & he for me. Feeling loved and appreciated by valued friends & neighbors. Giving our neighborhood a small lantern fest on Christmas Eve & having people grateful for the light. Convertible rides along the coast with favorite music. Inspired podcasts full of inspiration and life lessons. Books to share wisdom. Music that can transport you to special decades of your life…even a dance, a kiss, a lifetime moment. We were just reminiscing with our daughter about when she was a newborn and how we would stay up watching MTV and listen to the song “Running” by No Doubt & how that song can take us back to that sweet moment in time. It is amazing the power music has….really all of our senses–they take us back to so many places. Which brings me to Photo moments that can touch you with a treasured moment from yesterday to 20 years ago. It is amazing how talking, sharing, seeing, feeling little moments can take you right back to those special, treasured spaces of your life.

EVERY DAY Every day is full of little treasured moments. Write them down or snap a shot so that you hold onto them even longer. It is the moments that are the real treasures in our lives. We live and seek and find them every single day. The moments are what make our lives really rich…..with the things that matter the very most. Those are the real gems. Hold on to those with all your heart. xoxo

Asked my family for their “reaction”Treasures”: They talked about one or two memory highlights from the past year & one tangible thing you could actually put into a treasure chest. Jon–Memory from this past year—walking the streets of our neighborhood, pretty brown trout that I caught that he can still replay back in his mind. Tangible thing—pontoon boat that allowed him to float some amazing rivers. Kate—tangible jewelry that represents various moments and very meaningful memories…photos…moments, intentional photo moments or selfie moments…brings the memories of places, people and important moments to her and her life.

There are sooo many moments for everyone. Take the time to even write down or reminisce over some of the many memories made over the last year. That in itself is a gift—to hear what is meaningful and memorable to one another is a priceless treasure. Take the time together.

HAPPIEST NEW YEAR. May you find everything you hope for…long for…need…wish for…desire…seek…may you find it. xoxo

Just LOVE

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Love and kindness are those qualities you hope you can authentically show up for in all you do. For the friends who need your support and care. For family. For the close, loving relationships that mean the most to your life. AND For yourself.

Recently I had heard a podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferris and Liz was explaining a personal exercise that she has found so beneficial to her life….A Love Letter to Yourself. The idea being—having a two-way conversation with God and asking, “What would you have me know”…and listening to the loving response about what God would like you to hear about you.

Now, this is not a new idea and I consider myself someone who prays, has conversations with God and who seeks to be in tune to guidance and a belief in a greater divine. BUT, I have written myself five letters in the past couple of weeks and it has been a beautiful gift to myself. I cannot explain the difference of seeing words come to you and typing or writing them on a page and then going back later and reading them. It is a beautiful experience to say and hear things said back to you. It also seems to bring such clarity and guidance of things that seem genuinely important to myself and what I believe on a grander scale. It has been wonderful.

Highly suggest you try it. I decided to get up early, go on a walk and then sit down to write the letters to myself. Just allow. Open yourself to the dialogue and just begin. Don’t overthink. Just listen and feel your way across the page. It is very connecting.

xoxoxo

So, then I decided to challenge my husband to try the same exercise. He is generally pretty skeptical about any of my far out or not normal requests. It is all fine and good for me, but for him….here is the scenario…me asking him and suggesting what a nice opportunity it could be for him after he had been on a nice walk. I suggest, ‘Maybe try writing yourself a love letter tonight and see how it goes and then maybe you could do it a few more times to see how you really feel.’ He immediately responded, “I will do it for you tonight, but I am not going to do it three more times.” I shared, “Well, if you are not wanting to do it for yourself, then don’t bother. I don’t want you doing it for me, you need to do it for yourself.”

Needless to say, he did write the letter to himself and then he shared it with me. It was a beautiful note and it made me tear up in emotion at the sincerity and kindness that was shared. His skepticism of course chimed in, “Well, it was probably all in my head and I don’t know. I just started to look at it like I was in a conversation with God and that’s what came up.” I smiled and teased, “Of course. That is what you do. Of course you are going to hear your own voice. Its like a two-way conversation, but God is not all of the sudden going to have a different voice in the conversation.” smile. smile. “It is a gentle way of connecting and hoping you feel of your worth and love.”

I was grateful he took on the challenge and I was gifted the opportunity to hear the words he shared from the letter. It was a genuine, loving conversation that meant something deeper.

I highly recommend trying this simple exercise for yourself, with family, with your children…it is a connecting exercise that helps everyone feel a little more LOVE. Period.

Some other ideas to connect with God on a deeper level:

Tune in EARLY–I always heard Wayne Dyer share that he had a lot of inspiration come to him in the morning hours—around 3 am. That is when he would do most of his writing. He felt it was the best time of day to tune in.

PRAY–Prayer truly is a great way to simply begin. You can do a written prayer or just begin to ask, connect and talk. Nothing needs to be formal. Just pray from your heart.

CREATE–creativity through writing, art, music…is a very basic way to connect on some level. Many years ago I worked for a lawyer & I found him to be a very inspiring person. I asked him for a list of his top books he would suggest reading. The top of his list, “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. I was shocked that he had an artist book at the top. He just shared that it took him out of his normal routine and challenged him on another level. That is why he liked it so much. Another great book that I am reading currently, Rick Rubin’s book, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” Also a great read. Creativity is within all things—the creation of all that is comes from an idea of the imagination…the seed of a dream…a divine spark…a whisper of a possibility. Creativity is a doorway to another depth, a challenge and connection beyond.

READ something inspiring–There are so many people in the world with their unique talents, stories, experiences, lives they’ve led and you can learn so much from them. Find those people or stories that inspire you, read from the masters, learn from the leaders of old, tune in to those people who inspire you and shed light on your world. Follow those souls who bring you to awe. When you read something and FEEL something–listen, take note, be aware, wake-up. When you read something and highlight the whole book…Follow that.

MUSIC–I genuinely feel more alive, inspired on another level when I hear a piece of music that seems to lift to the heavens. I just heard Coldplay’s new album & the song “One World” —it is a gorgeous song that has a lot of instrumental. [enJOY the instrumental parts in this song—gorgeous] It just took my soul to a heavenly place. Music can be like that. Whether its lyrics or the tune or the instruments…there can be pieces that set your soul free. Im sure every song is different for each individual. PLAY the music and see how it FEELS to your soul. Music has a power all its own. The heavenly muses play through us to bring it to the world to share. What a beautiful idea. Truly listen to the beauties.

CALM–through stillness, your breath, meditation, yoga, movement [like walking]…there are so many variables of things that can bring you to a quiet place and allow you to fall into a flow or a deeper rhythm of calm or a focus that transports you higher.

Tapping into your own STRENGTHS or PURPOSE–you have your own unique gifts that lead you to a higher calling to share with the world. Maybe you are really good at lifting people through leadership or have a natural eye for photography or easily string together a beautiful combination of words in writing. Everyone has things that light them up and get them excited. Follow that excitement and enthusiasm to those things that stir your soul and energize you. Chase after them, learn and grow through them and get yourself to a place to share with the world. YOU do you. The rest will come.

Pick a SPIRITUAL TOPIC and study it for a year & share what you learn–I remember when Wayne Dyer decided to do this with the Tao and got rid of everything material in his office space. He then carried a copy of the Tao with him everywhere and began to focus on one part for a specific set time. He then created his own ideas to share.

Keep a list of DAILY BLESSINGS–aka gratitude lists. You can do this on an individual basis or you can ask every family member to also share in this. Have everyone share blessings around the dinner table OR you can also share before bed OR you can also have everyone text things to one another throughout the day to keep the conversation and connections going.

Some other sweet ideas I found online to tap into a DEEPER CONNECTION–Go on a prayer walk around your neighborhood & pray for each individual as you pass their home . Blow a kiss to the sunrise or sunset and give thanks as you enjoy the beauty . Look at tiny details in nature and give thanks for the awe and amazement of such creations . Sing hymns that resonate with you . Go on a hike and give thanks for the grandeur and details all around . Light a candle every morning and read a devotional of some kind . Find a local cathedral and just admire the beauty and detail within the walls . Create your own prayer bead ritual and give thanks in your own way with each bead . Practice being of service by cleaning out your old & donating to those in need . Practice solitude with a specific time or day to have a technology break . Ask God to bring someone to you that needs you to help them . Write down personal miracles or moments of grace that you or your family were given . Once a week [over dinner or breakfast] have everyone share something that they felt helped them feel connected to God in some way . Have everyone in your family write down their own stories or experiences of when they felt God touch their lives .

Strive to JUST LOVE–Love is the opposite of all that is harsh or detrimental or destructive. It is a place of peace, light, calm, a higher place to seek to exist. Do all you can to simplify, grow in kindness, become a little better each day, let go of fear or judgements, calm the waters of chaos or anxiety…do all you can to strive to come from a higher place of love. Practice that. Every thing takes time, so you may as well practice to come from LOVE than anything else, right?

There are many little things we can seek and strive to do to bring a deeper connection with God. Coming from a place of LOVE is the greatest goal. Take it day by day…write a love letter to yourself. Write a love letter to your children. Help a neighbor feel loved. Be love. Spread Love.

As Coldplay says in the song…IN THE END, IT’S JUST LOVE.

DO THAT. xoxo

Peace, Love and Light to you. -H

DON’T WASTE LOVE

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DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT ANY LOVE.

“I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.” —J.R.R. Tolkien

I have been all alone from my little tribe and my heart FEELS it. The above line sings deeply to where I am in my current life situation.

“I had something to fight for, and I was fighting for the love of my life. I couldn’t give up or give in—not now. Not after all I’d been through—all we’d been through.” ― Shanora Williams, “100 Proof”

My sweet husband has up and moved to Montana to financially support our family and our hearts have desperately missed one another. It is funny how the heart grows fonder and you wish and you long for the love you miss. He is my best friend and we often find ourselves talking about wishing we were doing this or that together. We don’t have that co-dependent kind of love, we just sincerely enjoy our time and friendship together, so our hearts definitely long to be connected.

“When two people are meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too far, no one can ever tear them apart.”

“Falling in love is easy, but staying in love is very special.”

My daughter fell quickly in love with a French exchange student who invited her to France for four weeks this summer and that is where she is. She has been with him 24/7 and having the time of her life. They seem to be falling in love more and more every day. That says something for my daughter—she usually is tired of anyone after 3-5 days. I genuinely wondered how it would be and if she would be headed home early. This morning she called me in tears, “I just saw his beautiful, new apartment he is going to be living in. It is going to be his new life and I will not be in it. It makes me so sad.” I felt the deep love and connection she was feeling and I broke down in tears too. Love does that. You want those you love to be happy. That is what she followed up her tears with, “I want him to be happy and I am so happy he has a wonderful place to live, its just hard knowing I won’t be here to drop by or live this life with him.” “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” —Robert A. Heinlein

“I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.” —Roy Croft

“A successful relationship requires falling in love multiple times, but always with the same person.”

LOVE does that to people—-it connects you so deeply that when your hearts are apart—in some sense they do break. They break open to a different type of love—a love that realizes how deeply you are connected to one another. Its as if you are able to see the current love you have from a new angle and see that it is immeasurable. Love keeps growing and changing and longing to be felt more and more. “My love for you has no depth, its boundaries are ever-expanding.” —Christina White

I am trying to look at this time as a gift for my life, to ensure that I never take the love we have for granted. It has made me step back and notice the complacency we were tripping into on occasion. We took it for granted that we could walk the beach every day together and now its only a week out of the month. It is true—you don’t truly appreciate what you have until its gone. Don’t waste LOVE.

“She knew she loved him when ‘home’ went from being a place to being a person.” —E. Leventhal

I was talking to my brother on the phone and expressing to him how quickly time goes by and how his kids will be grown before he knows it. I shared how you can understand it on an even deeper level by thinking about how many days he sees his kids per week and calculating that until they are on their own. It gives hard numbers that are hard to minimize. My brother then joked, “So you get to see Jonny 12 more times this year.” My heart sank at the thought. It did make me ponder the reality and how sad that truly is. What if I only get to spend lets say 11 days a month for six months–that is only 66 days. That is incredibly sad. We only have this one lifetime together. How do we NEED to spend it!? We NEED to be together! You don’t genuinely appreciate the time you have together until something like having to move to Montana makes you truly ponder. It has made me genuinely see that HE is my home. I think many people just get use to their regular routines and the love falls flat or becomes part of the scenery and is not center stage in their life. It gets lost in the weeds of carpool, work, routine, kids clubs, obligations, etc. Love needs to be noticed, to feel seen and appreciated to continue to grow. It is like anything–it needs to be watered and sprinkled with the necessities and nourishment to thrive….

I just laughed in my head at the thought that just popped in—The funny movie with Kate Hudson in “How to Lose a guy in 10 days” where she gives him a “Love fern.” It is just like that!! It needs to be loved, watered, taken care of, put in some sunlight and talked to with great care. That is how love is. I think we just get by with love and don’t take the necessary steps to help it flourish.

DONT WASTE YOUR LIFE WITH NOT LOVING THE WAY LOVE NEEDS…DEEPLY

“The regret of my life is that I have not said ‘I love you’ often enough.” —Yoko Ono

Remind yourself of the gift love is. Not everyone gets a glimpse or a chance to share in love, so if you are so lucky—take a chance, play full out, fight hard for love and never give up. Keep working at it and give so much that you become exhausted in LOVE. No regrets.

“Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.” —Bertrand Russell DONT be cautious in LOVE. Time zips by and will leave you standing there wondering where life went and where the beautiful love that your heart longed for exists. Take every risk in love, dance at every occasion, pray to the heavens for doors to open and seize the opportunities before they are stolen from you and you miss it! DONT WASTE LOVE. Your happiness depends on the love you can learn from and the wisdoms that it will freely give your life. It is a precious treasure to not take for granted. Seek to find it and never use caution—only deliberate passion and discovery when it comes to finding LOVE. It may be hiding, but you do all you can to find it.

My very FAVORITE thought on LOVE…When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too. -Paulo Coelho LOVE changes EVERYTHING for the better. BELIEVE that. LIVE that. JUST LOVE.

My husband and I will find a way. Our LOVE is deep but it is still hard to be apart. We have to have the faith that LOVE WILL FIND A WAY and EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT…FOR LOVE. it will. LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING FOR THE BETTER…

But, for all of you who have LOVE lying next to you or can share a kiss anytime or give a simple hug or can go on a walk together today…GO DO IT. DONT WASTE LOVE. I cannot tell you how many times I just want to hug my husband or hold his hand…DONT WASTE the LOVE you have in front of you.

“You can’t just give up on someone because the situation’s not ideal. Great relationships aren’t great because they have no problems. They’re great because both people care enough about the other person to find a way to make it work.”

“If you want a relationship that looks and feels like the most amazing thing on earth, you need to treat it like it is the most amazing thing on earth.” -your tango

“A ‘perfect marriage’ is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.”

“True love is rare, and it’s the only thing that gives life real meaning.” —Nicholas Sparks

“True love stories never have endings.” —Richard Bach

So, there you go. DONT WASTE ANOTHER MINUTE ON THE LOVE YOU HAVE. CHERISH IT. DISCOVER IT. NOURISH IT. FIGHT FOR IT. and above all else…JUST LOVE DEEPLY with your WHOLE HEART. You have this ONE LIFETIME. BE WITH THOSE YOU LOVE. CHOOSE LOVE. NO REGRETS.

xoxo. -Peace, Love and Light to you. -H

Connection

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Sadly, I think a very human tendency is to judge. We get into habits of people watching and noticing and…seeing what WE think is. Well, I LOVE situations that challenge any moment of judgement.

My husband and I were stopping to get gas and an attendant was walking up. An older man with long, straggly, grey hair, long beard, tattoos, huge ear gages, lots of jewelry and leather bracelets…he looked like an older member of a biker gang or something. I wasn’t sure how gruff or what temperament we would get. He approached the car. I instantly said, “How are you doing?” He replied optimistically, “No problems!” I smiled, “Wow. [I quickly looked at his name tag] Bronson, where did this attitude come from?” He said, “My grandfather once told me, “Happiness is a choice.” Now I have had a hell of a life, full of trouble. I finally woke up one day and thought that maybe I should take my grandfather’s advice and try happiness. I kept trying and trying until it stuck. I found happiness is a choice.” He beamed and kept at his work.

I quickly shuffled through my purse and pulled out one of my favorite “thoughtful” cards and wrote a little note to our new gas attendant & expressed our gratitude for his great attitude. He genuinely took the card with a smile.

It was such a wonderful moment of connection with a stranger.

I LOVE and appreciate those moments that continually challenge us to be open and just love.

Connection is that gift that is always available—if we take the time to open the door to another.

May we always seek the gifts that are available in another.

“Connecting with others gives us a sense of inclusion, connection, interaction, safety, and community. Your vibe attracts your tribe, so if you want to attract positive and healthy relationships, be one! Staying connected and getting reconnected feeds the flow of goodness which empowers our humanity.”
― Susan C. Young

“I believe connection is needed more today than ever. When we allow ourselves to listen with our hearts we are then able to be truly present.” 
― Debbie Payne

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” – Mother Teresa

I hope this little story of connection makes you smile and brings a little happiness to your day.

Connect. Love. Share a smile. Make a friend. Be a gift to someone’s day.

-xoxo H

We ALL need CONNECTION

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I LOVE the origin of words…CONNECTION

Where did the word connection come from? Etymology.[the study of the origin of words] From Middle English conneccioun, connexioun, conneccyon, conneccion, from Latin connexionem (nominative connexio (“a conclusion, binding together”)), from connectō, an alternative spelling of cōnectō (“I bind together”), from compound of co- (“together”) and nectō (“I bind”).

So, to bind together is a beautiful way to describe our need for connection. Like a coming together to bind or bond. Last night my husband and I were whale watching from a bench along the Oregon coast when a young man stood near us looking out into the vast horizon. We started to talk to him and shared with him that there were a number of whales to see. He perked right up. We knew he was not local and began to ask questions and inquire where he was from. He chimed in & told us he was from Germany. He began to tell us about his bike excursion down the coast & that he had been traveling for months through Canada, and just left Washington and was headed to California. Then a whale blew & he began to see the number of whales, “That is a lot of whales,” He smiled. We smiled and kept asking him questions. We then invited him to come stay for a meal, shower and a good night sleep in a bed. He thought for a moment and then said, “Yes. I accept your invitation.” We directed him to some cliffs beyond the bench and told him we would throw his bike in our truck and head out shortly.

It was such a fun evening getting to connect with a complete stranger from a foreign land. We had him share his highlights of dog-mushing in Canada, learned about his siblings and family in Germany, talked about the Ukrainian war and its impact in Europe, back and forth we shared over Mexican food by our outdoor fire pit. We all walked the beach together, watched the sun set and then relaxed for the evening with more questions and the movie, “The Life of Walter Mitty.” Our new friend, Marios took it all in and was so gracious in all he did. He snacked, smiled and indulged us when we told him he had to try one of our favorite, relaxing, family rituals…footie socks! He looked at us very strange and said, “What are footie socks?” His puzzled face was priceless. We showed him how to apply the cheap, moisturizing foot socks & the whole family had them on while we watched the movie. He was amazed and took silly photos with our dogs and his socks. “Crazy Americans!” We all laughed.

It was a great time connecting with another human living a different experience. We are all like that. Different circumstances, thoughts, governments, ideas, beliefs, desires, culture, family…but in situations like this, we are all just people…getting to know one another, connecting, sharing, learning and caring.

Connection gives you new perspectives, it helps you see the world from various views, and allows you to just LOVE. We are just people. We are all in this together. We genuinely enjoyed hearing him share stories about different people he has met along the way. He shared how he thought the trip would be harder and lonelier, but for him, he has felt more connected. He has met many people his age along the way, made new friends in various places and shared that when he started the trip he was much more introverted and shared that the journey has helped him so much.

It was wonderful. This morning I wrote him a small note to pass along our info. and stay connected. In the note, I attached the quote from the movie, Walter Mitty that was the Life Magazine Motto…

This movie, this quote, this connection with our new friend help solidify how important and life affirming connection truly is. We need to “find each other, and to feel.” There is real purpose and meaning when we get to notice and value another person and their journey. It is a beautiful gift.

Reach out and connect with a stranger, begin a conversation, open a door and smile, share in the tiny connections that help us find, feel and connect.

Thank you, Marios for being authentically you, being open and willing to be part of our family for a day and to share in your journey. What a gift. We are all gifts to one another if we open our hearts and seek the connections.

Be safe, friend.

Peace, Love and Light. -H

FRAGILE handle with care

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61f71b81c03c3205c2d8352182c1d956 One thing I have learned is that God places me (or the other way around 😉 in situations where I am needed. Whether it was a single mom who had just moved here from Turkey and they didn’t have anything for Christmas, a couple of homeless kids who needed a shower and a meal, various people who just needed a ear to listen, a homeless musician who needed encouragement to connect with his daughter, a young girl just out of foster care who I still talk to every day…there are people all around us who need something.

There are so MANY people who need to be handled with great care. 

After my daughter and I came across a young man (Quinn) walking along the road carrying garbage & our brief encounter, I have had this nagging intuition to find him. I have felt very strongly that he may need us in some way, that we were put in his path for a reason. After weeks of thinking how crazy that looks (an adult trying to find this young man) I decided I would try. Because, I know for some reason we crossed paths.

I felt we (as a family) could use this inspiration of one kid doing such a small act and build on that, so we decided we would find this young man and tell him what an inspiration he was to us that we are going to start an organization that finds other kids in our community who are making small changes that will make a big difference and gift them some kind of award and one hundred dollars.

We thought we would begin with Quinn. We knew he lived in a certain area near our home, but not sure where. I stopped by a random house and simply asked if they knew a Quinn that lived somewhere nearby. The woman did know the young man and asked why we were looking for him. I expressed that he had inspired us with a kind action he had done for the community and we wanted to give him a gift to thank him. She asked what he had done & I explained the story of finding him on a main road with armfuls of garbage. She smiled & said, “Yeah that is pretty great! My kids definitely would not do that.” She then told us, “that will be a great thing for Quinn. He and his family have been through  a lot.” My heart immediately knew we were in the right place and that following this continued guidance was where we needed to be. She sent us his address.

I ran to the dollar store to find a gift box and a frame for a favorite quote we would gift him. While I was at the store I came across this huge hanging rack of shipping labels that said in huge letters, “FRAGILE. Handle with Care.” I looked at that and it made me think how people are like that. Everyone has a story, a journey, heartbreaks, challenges, emotional needs, etc. and how we need to be sensitive to others and handle them with genuine care.

We genuinely just wanted to make this young man feel appreciated and notice him. We still don’t know what he or his family has gone through, but we wanted to handle the moment with great care and love. We wanted it to be a highlight moment in his life where complete strangers noticed him and his light in this world. We wanted him to know he was not alone or that his actions went unnoticed.

It was a wonderful exchange and he was so surprised and moved that his actions would inspire anyone. We all felt lifted by the genuine care and sincerity of the moment.

Everyone is going through something—“Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Always be kind.” Everyone is going through something on some level, so remember the labels we put on others and try this one…”FRAGILE handle with care”

So, when you see a stranger carrying garbage or an elderly woman struggling to carry groceries, pull over, have a genuine moment and handle them with love and care. Everyone will take away something good from the needed connection.

Peace and Love to you today,  -H

 

Connect

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86449-C-G-Jung-Quote-The-least-of-things-with-a-meaning-is-worth-more-in-1

We need connection as human beings. I have struggled with this and continue to try and find my way through seeking connections on various levels. I don’t suffer from depression or have any greater emotional need. I have lonely moments from a lack of feeling connected, who doesn’t, but I definitely see and feel a strong need in the world for connection.

“We were born with the craving for connection. Each of us every day look for evidence that we are not alone.”  -Lisa Prosen

People slip by us in grocery stores, rarely do we thank our delivery man or woman, smiles seem to evaporate with the busy race that seems to speed up our lives and the constant attention our phones demand takes away any sense of eye contact or connection.  We seem to be feeling more and more alone in this world.

One Republic has a great song called, “Connection” that illustrates this common feeling of needing connection by simply stating, “Can I get a connection.”

According to an article by Psychology Today, “In our advanced digital age, one of the prevalent concerns regarding the increasing emergence of loneliness is how we have become less caring of others. At one time, our very survival depended on trusting and supportive relationships. Fundamentally, it doesn’t matter how technologically sophisticated we become; emotional connectivity remains a core part of being human. We need each other—maybe not in the ways that characterized us evolutionarily, but for a need that remains essential for psychological survival.”

So, as many of my posts have talked about, I have been seeking and trying to connect more with those around me—strangers, restaurant workers, neighbors, etc. People need connection. They need a simple smile, a hello, someone interested, someone who notices them…simple things.

My daughter and I were driving down a road near our home and came upon a young man who had his arms full of stuff. Upon closer look, he was carrying garbage. I looked at my daughter and could not believe it!! I said to her, “how often do you see a kid your age picking up garbage? I am going to turn around and give him some praise and thank him.”

My daughter was mortified and said, “No, don’t!”

I smiled and turned the car abruptly and headed in the young man’s direction. We pulled the car over right in front of him. [I actually think I scared him & he wondered if we were going to run him over.]

I jumped out of the car & told him what an incredible thing he was doing. One person making a difference in any way he could. He smiled and was so humble. My daughter by this point figured she should say something and got out of the car. We all exchanged some small talk about different areas/projects we have tried to do cleanups to help make a difference. We were all passionate about making small differences. It was a fun conversation and we ended up taking all the garbage in our car so he could finish his run home.

It was a great moment of connection. We were so happy we stopped and made a new friend—someone else who needed the connection. We all left that moment better. Sure we could have just kept driving, but we would have missed such a blessed moment together. It was a gift to all of us.

So, next time you see someone who may need a compliment, a boost, praise, a hand to hold, a smile, a ride, a friend…just connect. It will change your day and theirs too.

 

Sobering 9/11

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njdg1tawqxjbq964frl2Many people will never forget where they were or what was going on around them on 9/11. It is so humbling to walk back in your mind and remember how paralyzed our nation was and then how joined it became.

I was living in a tiny, country town, Shelley, Idaho. It was a place of acres and acres of potato fields and very few people. I will never forget how at that time in our nation, it became a place of American flags on every car, people honking and cheering on our local fire engines and public safety, giant flags painted on barns…it was a beautiful thing to see a community join together in such patriotism.

I don’t think anyone will forget the images that kept replaying on the televisions across the country, the sobering stories of everyday heroes, unbelievable stories of survival and the heartbreaking realizations of loss.

Every 9/11 is a mix of emotions and this morning I woke up to an email that informed me of my dear neighbor with six young kids (under the age of 14) who just found out she has breast cancer and its spreading. My heart ached and I immediately ran over to be of service and see what I could do.

Any tragedy is sobering, so I ask of you on this day of 9/11…find those things within your life that you daily take for granted and give thanks. Hold your family a little tighter. Reach out to someone in need. Take something to your local fire department or public servant and say thank you for their service.

We are all in this one life together, so if we can remember this daily, then when any tragedy hits your family, your neighbor, your community, your country, then you will be ready to take on anything TOGETHER.

TOGETHER: Here is something soo interesting: [I posted this years ago, but it has always stayed with me on 9/11–shows how connected we truly are]

Out of the horror of 9/11 some amazing scientific discoveries were made–our satellites positioned thousands of miles above the earth–every 30 minutes the satellites send a signal that tells us how strong the magnetic field of the earth really is. It ebbs and flows each day. On 9/11 there was a huge spike and the researchers had never seen a spike like this before or on both satellites. They were trying to figure out what on earth happened & this led the researchers to understand the collective heart-based response, The human emotion that was outpouring in a particular time of that day. It was so powerful that it coupled with the magnetic field of the earth. It showed how everything is connected to the field. It took a tragedy to understand the connection, but what heartmath is trying to decide is if they can utilize the same connection without tragedy.
Can heart-based coherence bring people together in peace. Heartmath has a coalition has sensors throughout the world trying to decipher human emotions trying to see how to bring about human coherence throughout the world.

May we always seek to have grateful hearts for the world we live in, the relationships we are gifted to share and the love to freely give—always.

Peace, Love and Light to you on this day of 9/11.  -H

Deliberately CONNECT

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Albert-Schweitzer-Sometimes-our-light-goes-out-but-is-blown-again-into-instant-flame-by-an-encounter-with-another-human-beingSince my sweet connection with a stranger (that I wrote about in a previous blog), I have felt a deeper desire to be deliberate in sending out “sparks” of connection. In doing so, I have literally had some of the sweetest conversations with complete strangers that I have met on trails. Have shared sincere smiles & hellos. One of my favorites was when my husband and I were at the car wash. The young car wash attendant was washing windshields & looked like he was in a trance of doing the same thing over and over. I instantly waved at the car wash attendant & my husband quickly chimed in, “he is going to think you are trying to get him to stop the car.” The attendant instantly began smiling and waving. Me & the young man both happily waved big waves, big smiles & gave each other a thumbs up in genuine appreciation of connection. It was so fun to light up someone’s job. It was deliberate & it not only made my day, but I am sure it helped the young man have a better day too.

There is something about deliberately seeking connection–You seek out smiling at someone. You look people in the eye. You find yourself trying to identify who may need a smile or hello more than someone else. But most importantly, I find, I get out of myself and contribute to the world, even in a small way.

When you watch people, you see there is a big need for connection. People need a little spark–a hello, a smile–to feel lit up. The world needs more of that.

I came across the following story & I fell in love with the spirit of this man. He is and has been on a mission to do his part–to connect on a daily basis. Enjoy his story.

 

May you have the courage to get out of yourself & spread a little more connection.

May your day be filled with light and love. xoxo

CONNECTION

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i-love-those-connections-that-make-this-big-old-world-feel-like-a-little-village-403x403-nk7a7kI had a beautiful moment happen to me today. You may on occasion have a complete stranger smile, say hello or have a brief conversation about something going on around you, but today, I had a sincere, emotional connection with a complete stranger.

It was an incredible gift to my journey and I just wanted to express how important connection truly is to one another. I enjoy people, but there is a part of me that is a little guarded— because it is just me & some of my human experiences.

Today, I was driving around running a few errands & I often find myself praying as I drive. I always ask to be a light in the world & today was a confirmation that each and every one of us can be a connection, a hope of friendship, a light to someone.

I was printing off a few quotes for a gift I am doing for my daughter’s friends with school graduation tonight. I entered a local copy shop & knew no one. A tall, ordinary guy in his mid-twenties came to help me. There was some orchestra music playing & he seemed to light up at a song that had cellos. “I love this song. I play the cello.” He beamed and I told him how wonderful that must be. As he laminated and printed my items we had a brief conversation about the power of music and I asked him his thoughts on the connection between music and brighter minds. He shared a study that was done that he had read about & I explained that my sixteen-year-old daughter loves & is good at science and math, but struggles with instruments.  We talked back and forth & it was just a sweet, innocent conversation about music.

As he was placing my items in a paper sack, he genuinely looked into my eyes & said, “Just continue to do whatever it is your doing. You seem so alive. I knew when I started talking to you, that you felt like a friend in this world. We are all on this journey & just keep doing what you are doing. It’s great!” His eyes literally began to well up & I was taken back by his genuine sincerity. It was so refreshing to see and feel a stranger share something so kind. I lovingly thanked him & then smiled a big smile and said, “Maybe it is because I am reading “The Book of Joy” by the Dali Lama and Desmond Tutu.”  He beamed & began to laugh, “Are you serious?” I smiled and genuinely said, “yes. You should read it.”  He began heading to help another customer & smiled, “I am always looking for good things to read.”  I yelled across the counter, “Thank you for your genuine kindness. It meant a lot.” and I walked out the door.

It was one of those moments where you feel truly connected in the world & you know you are where you needed to be. I don’t know why, but I knew that my prayers to seek to be a light were confirmed that we can each do our best to be a light, to seek to shine, to connect with others, even strangers.

It was a beautiful gift. I will cherish this memory & always hold it as a sweet reminder that we are all genuinely connected. Love is the string that ties us all together. I sincerely felt that.

Thank you.

“We are hard wired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.”  -Brene Brown

“Connection is the energy that exists between two people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” -unknown

PS One last god wink that just happened—I wanted to find a quote to go along with this post & the Gina Bellman (at the top of this page) came up & she is an actress that I had never seen or heard of until I just started watching the series “Leverage” (great series) within the last couple of weeks. Love the not so coincidences of life. smile. smile.

Peace, Love and Light to you today.  -H