Connection

Hello! Thanks for stopping by! Pull up a chair, get a steaming cup of coffee or tea, and let's chat. I have so much to share with you!

I'm going to bounce some thoughts and ideas off of you and see what you think. The topic of the day is: "Making a Connection". Definition (according to Oxford Universal Dictionary):

"Connection: a person who is connected with others by ties of any kind. The meeting of one means of communication by another at an appointed time and place."

I sometimes like to "make up" my own working, personal definitions as they help me to better relate and work with words and ideas. Here's one meaning that I came up with on my own (according to Colleen's dictionary).

"Connection: an understanding, mutually respectful and caring friendship which shares and strengthens one's life (and the lives of others) and results in joy."

This is a subjective view, but let's just run with it for a moment. I'm making a connection with you right now via this website, to communicate to you at this time. I'll elaborate to give clarity to what I am saying.

We have the possibility of joining together to encourage and "champion each other", challenging each other, cheering each other on in the journey called life. The following is a window into my life that you, too, may find familiar in yours. I have a dear friend of almost 40 years. We have been through the proverbial "thick and thin" together. We've survived. And, we've not only survived, we've flourished! There have been the slings and arrows of life, we've dodged the inevitable blows that have come our way, gone through many, varied seasons of life, raised our children, managed illnesses, shared problems of all kinds as well as joys. We are there for each other, supporting, loving, and challenging each other. What we have is an enduring connection.

If you've been around for any length of time, you have probably experienced situations, let's say, that have given you "opportunity to grow". (This is a tactful way of saying what Scott Peck said so well, "Life is difficult"). Now, that's not to say life is bad or no fun or continually disappointing. Life is what it is - life. It's simply facing the cold, hard facts that life isn't for sissies. It's kind of like those games of dodge ball we played when we were kids. If you're in the game, eventually you're going to get hit. That's the facts.

Whether it's a glancing hit, or the ball heads directly for your nose (which actually happened to me in junior high basketball!) and bounces off, you have to decide whether it takes you out of the game or challenges you to give it your all. I am determined and challenged to give it my all and then some. I, for one, want to go for broke. (I tend to pepper my language with numerous figures of speech so please bear with me.…) But I have digressed. Let's return to the topic at hand. What was it?? Oh yes, connection.

There are effective, efficient, and competent ways of doing things. We can learn from one another and from each other's experiences and expertise. We each have wonderful talents and gifts and a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that we can share. We can form a caring community for mutual growth and enjoyment. We can be part of each other's becoming.

How might I choose to connect with you right now? I may write, give you a call, extend a kindness, give you a smile, send a card, encourage with words and attentiveness, offer a challenge to you, thank you for the gift of you and your time, listen, be a resting place, share the possibilities, dream with you. I may understand while extending an opportunity to grow and become. Become whom? Become okay with who you are right now and to go beyond that and become all you desire to be. It's up to you and up to me. But, I know that connection is powerful. How do I know? I have experienced it. And you probably have too. There's something about being recognized and respected for who you are. There's something about cohesive community and relating that carries with it the climate for growth, change, paradigm shifts, and ultimately, joy.

I invite you on this journey of connection. Connection makes life better. It can be a challenge at times. Is anything that's worthwhile easy? It may not be easy, but it is simple. Yes.

Thanks for the connection we have at this moment. Thanks for taking the time to connect with me. Thank you for listening.

Think of the times you have experienced real connection. Someone may have reached out to you. Someone may have understood what you said and found it valuable. You may not have had to explain yourself. They got it. You may have extended yourself and "been there" for someone - a friend, acquaintance, someone you've never met that you passed while out. You gave, they responded. They gave, you responded. You connected. It was good. Hold on to that feeling and feel it. That's what I'm talking about.

Quip #2 - Networking - Read on >>