As I’m lying here in bed, I find myself thinking about connections. My mind is abuzz with questions and contemplations. How often do we pass through someone’s life just with a glance? I have been more atuned with my surroundings lately, and have noticed how much we take for granted. Think about it: you’re at the check out of your local grocer, the cashier greets you. What do you do? I’ve seen it time and time again where the customer ignores the cashier or vice versa. Do you realize how anti-social our generation has become? Would it be different if it were a text message rather then a kind face greeting you?
Or perhaps you’re at the coffee shop and an attractive person sits across from you and you share a glance. Do you continue staring at your e-reader without even saying hello to them? Do you ever wonder if that person may be the person you’re meant to meet yet you let an opportunity pass you by to form a connection?
I have been wasting so many moments glancing at others and not really apprecaiting their presence, even for the moment exchange of goods. I find that I’m truly upset with myself for doing this, for not being the person my father raised and for falling to the technological vortex of this century. I have made a promise to myself to be more aware, to greet others, to be present in their lives even for a moment. I hope that this will allow me to appreciate the connections we as humans thrive for. I do not want to regret not holding a door for someone, or for not saying hi to someone and actually meaning it.
So as this year begins to pick up its pace, I challenge you to find connections. To put down your cell phone, your e-reader, your laptop for just a moment and smile or say hi to the stranger across from you. A little kindness goes a long way.
She exchanged glances with a passerby and wandered away with a smile. -CourtneyRas
Adventures of a Wayfarer 