On Christmas Day I teetered toward a private pity party as I
started the morning on my own. This was my first Christmas ever with no one
there. All my usual tribe were out of town and rather than scramble for invites
to distract me I leaned into the experience. I took my holiday dog Roxy out for a walk and
the first person I see is on the ground, homeless and cold. It’s Christmas
morning I thought and any tendency toward self pity flew from my head. I approached, asked his name and got to know
him. Of course he wanted money. I offered food and a hot drink.
It felt so good to take his order and deliver him a latte
and bagel that the dog and I continued to roam the streets getting to know our
less fortunate neighbors. I realized how little it took to make a connection
and make someone’s day just a little bit brighter. I noticed how good I felt
when I could do that. It made me wonder about commonality and how finding it is
always possible even if not always easy.
A connection often ensures when people share work, or
sports, or hobbies or the ultimate social lubricant ( a phrase coined by
Buns)….the dog. Yes…the dog. Sure Roxanne is a cute bublbly red head with
engaging brown eyes and a ready to please personality but the response on the
streets really took me aback. Smiles were returned, initiated even and eye contact
was common. She was the ultimate ice breaker and I wondered if I would have
been half as brave in making contact with strangers without her by my side.
There was something
about my four footed pal that caused people to act like long lost members of
the same tribe. We could talk about anything. Total strangers shared all sorts
of intimate details not to mention how bold I became. I thought nothing of
approaching a strong athletic type of guy and asking if he’d mind kicking
Roxy’s soggy squeaky football because I was sure his ability to get some distance
would far surpass mine. Without the dog I would never have met so many fun people.
So the question on the table is how do I keep this energy
going once Roxy goes home? Seriously, living life this way seems like an open
invitation to spontaneity and connection. It’s like an evite to the universe to
keep weaving circumstances with the most unlikely candidates and watching to
see what happens. I like it.
So I started my conscious connecting New Years Eve and
before going cold turkey meaning no dog, no props, no cocktails, I let myself
ease into my new attitude with some fine martinis ( we had just discovered some
brilliant olives stuffed with baby pickles and a little trinket that my roomie T bought for me.
Picture this. A headband on the top of your head with protruding fiber optic
spikes that glow purple and red. It moves, when you tilt your head, it glitters
and best of all it invites conversation. Weird…well yes but we have already
established that as a norm. Truth be told I have always had a penchant for
dressing up and hey its downtown…the New Year upon us and anything goes. Along
with our portable sound system cranking tunes it was a real hit on the city
buses. We made a lot of people laugh.
This New Year’s Eve also included a letting go, fire ritual.
I had things to burn and release. The caldron was ready, the witches came and
humor was non negotiable. New Years Day started with a brunch of decadence,
Panecotti French toast with Mascarpone and fresh orange juice. And then the
madness of the Polar Bear swim, gorillas paired with Santas in red Speedos and hordes
of happy vibrant people all coming together at English Bay as they danced into
the frigid ocean waters. This was the perfect canvas to begin to paint my New
Year attitude around connection.
Everyone seemed so fresh with a clean slate 2014 feeling,
including me.
And I have 365 days to make eye contact, initiate
conversation and cultivate a perception of pure acceptance for myself and
others. Like a prescription for the social malaise which I have felt held
hostage by lately I fully commit to at least one conversation with a total
stranger every day. And more than just, hey how are you doing! Even if I don’t
feel like it. Even if I am having a sad
day.
I also started a joy jar, a container that I will fill with
pieces of paper that hold nuggets of my interactions and memories of gratitude
for precious moments throughout each day.
By 2015 I will have filled it and we will sit by the fire
next New Years Eve and share the content.
Isn’t life a mystery? A marvelous mystery that may or may
not ever make total sense. And today I am well with that.
Branded by banishing the blues,
Authentically Yours,
Marty
I think this is my favouritest post Marty! Having just lately spent some time in Dallas with you, I saw you in action and how great you are at making meaningful connections! You rock, sista! xo
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