WoW: The Dream Stealer

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”

Douglas Everett

 

The Dream Stealer

(Author Unknown)

 

I have a friend named Molly Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro, California. She has let me use her house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth-at-risk programs and to help vets.

The last time I was there, she introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young woman who was the daughter of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the girl’s high school education was continually interrupted.

When she was a senior, she was asked to write a paper about what she wanted to be and do when she graduated. That night she wrote a seven-page paper describing her goal of someday owning a horse ranch. She wrote about this dream in great detail and she even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then she drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on the 200-acre dream ranch.

She put a great deal of her heart into the project and the next day, she handed it to her teacher. Two days later, she received her paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, “See me after class.”

The girl with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, “Why did I receive an F?”

The teacher said, “This is an unrealistic dream for a young girl like you. First of all, you are a girl and have no money. You come from a low-income family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later, you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”

The girl went home and thought about it long and hard. She asked her mother what she should do. Her mother said, “My dear daughter, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very, very important decision for you to make.”

Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the girl turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. She stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”

Molly then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.”

She added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago, that same school teacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, ‘Look, Molly, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I now realize I was sometimes a dream stealer. During those years, I think I let my own judgments, fears, and limited thinking steel a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately, you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.’”

“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

Mark Twain

WoW: Trust

 “You may not always trust the person you love, but you will always love the person you trust.”

 

Trust

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. 

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see it’s coming from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the smaller horse’s halter is a little bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. 

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and the blind horse will listen for the bell, then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. 

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure his blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Author Unknown

 

Like these two horses, sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of someone who cares and other times, we are the guiding horse, helping others find their way.

Good friends are like that.

You may not always see them, but you know they are always there…ready to lend a helping hand whenever it is needed. 

Be kinder than necessary— 
Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly…

And give unconditionally from your heart…

 

The way may not always be evident, but if you trust the love of a true friend, you will realize that we indeed do not reach our destination by sight alone.

 

WoW: The Buzzard, the Bat and the Bumblebee

“Impossible only means you haven’t found the solution yet”

 

 

Although I can’t vouch for the accuracy of these creature behaviors, I still appreciate the value of the message of this story and how it applies to human behavior.

 

The Buzzard, the Bat and the Bumblebee

 

THE BUZZARD:

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is six feet by eight feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is a buzzard always begins flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

 

THE BAT:

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

 

THE BUMBLEBEE:

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom… It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

Author Unknown

 

PEOPLE:

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing all we have to do is look for the openings and opportunities that are right in front of us. More committed to being right about the way we have always done things than we are to finding solutions to problems, we stay stuck, prisoners in our own jails of limited thinking.

 

How often do couples travel down the same path of arguing and fighting over something they disagree about? Rather than step back and look for another way to communicate, they just keep ramming the same point home, neither listening to the other and solutions are never found. Stalemates become acceptable. Being right becomes more important than having it work. Everyone loses.

 

How often do companies institute a new program, system or process that will save time, energy and money, but employees resist the change because it requires them to get out of the old patterns they’re stuck in and do things differently. The new system that could make everyone’s life easier and more efficient eventually gets bypassed by the old familiar ways. Nothing is improved. There is no growth for the company or for the individuals within it and everyone loses.

 

How do you stay stuck and trapped when you could be flying free? What are some limiting beliefs and behaviors you’re operating with that, if you changed them, would open up a whole new world for you?

 

What are the solutions that are right in front of your nose that you haven’t looked for or been willing to see? They are there. I can promise you that. But, Miss Ms./Mr. Buzzard, Bat and Bee, YOU must be willing to look for them.

 

You were given wings. Don’t waste them. Be creative. Look in places you’ve never gone before, discover ALL the choices that lie before you, explore avenues you’ve never thought of, talk to people who think differently than you, seek new methods, approaches and ideas and you’ll be flying soon!

WoW: Beautiful

There is so much I didn’t understand back then, but now I do.

 

I never understood why sometimes you would look at me for the longest time.

Now I know, you were wanting time to stand still.

 

I never understood why you would say you just wanted five minutes of peace and quiet, when being loud and messy was much more fun.

I never understood why you would tell me to “always be kind”, when my brother was so annoying!

Now I know, nothing could make a mother more proud.

 

I never understood why sometimes you would sit with your head in your hands.

Now I understand, you were hiding your tears.

 

I never understood why I missed you for what felt like days.

Now I understand, you were working around the clock just to keep us afloat.

 

I never understood why you seemed upset that I didn’t like my doll you got me one Christmas. After all, it wasn’t the one I asked for.

Now I understand, it was the next best affordable option.

 

I never understood why we had a big house then one day it became much smaller.

Now I understand that even as a single mother, you put our needs for school zoning ahead of the comfort of a larger home.

 

I never understood why when I was hurt I only wanted you.

Now I do, you’re the safest place I’ve ever known.

 

I never understood why in so many photos your dressy outfit was always the same.

Now I know, because ours were always different.

 

I never understood why it hurt you so much when I slammed doors or yelled at you growing up.

Now I do, and it hurts me too.

 

I never understood why you cried on my first overseas trip alone.

Now I know, the worry never stops.

 

I never understood why sometimes your hugs lasted that little bit longer.

Now I know, you needed one more than me.

 

I didn’t understand so much back then, but now I do.

You’re my hero, I love you.

 

I understand everything now.

 

 

Thank you to my good friend Jack D. for sharing this with us.

WoW: Seek To Believe

“Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”

Saint Augustine

 

 Seek to Believe

By B. J. Morbitzer

 

To believe is to know every day is a new beginning.

To believe is to trust that miracles happen and dreams really do come true.

To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds.

It’s knowing the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon.

To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart, the innocence of a child’s eyes, and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us, and to know when it’s time to pick up the pieces and begin again.

To believe is to know we are not alone, life is a gift, and this is our time to cherish it.

To believe is to know wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen and all our hopes and dreams are within reach.

If only we believe.

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.”

Richard Bach

WoW: OUR BIGGEST THREAT – TAKE ACTION HERE…

 TAKE ACTION STEPS HERE…SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE CONTACTS…

The 400+ voter suppression bills passed or pending at the state level threaten every citizen’s ability to freely elect our leaders. These anti-democratic bills can be defeated, and laws already passed are being fiercely challenged in the courts.

It also is crucial that For the People Act (HR1/S1) be signed into law ASAP to mitigate the damage caused by these state laws, strengthen our elections, and protect our democracy

To help make this happen, PLEASE DO JUST ONE OF THESE:

 

1. DONATE to organizations that are fighting voter suppression laws and advocating for the swift passage of For the People Act.

• Democracy Docket Founded by Marc Elias, it provides information about voting rights and threats to our democratic systems. It has instituted litigation challenging multiple state voter suppression laws and has an impressive track record of wins. Democracy Docket works closely and coordinates with the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, and other legal advocacy organizations. To donate to Marc’s (c4)DD Action Fund (DDAF) via Act Blue click here. (not tax-deductible)

• End Citizen’s United/Let America Vote Action Fund These two organizations, run by President Tiffany Muller, recently merged allowing them to take a coordinated approach to two of the biggest challenges facing our democracy: big money and voter suppression. (not tax-deductible)

• National Redistricting Action Fund Led by Eric Holder, this organization organizes, educates, and engages supporters both in the digital space and on the ground to restore fair representation to Congress and state legislatures, which will be critical during the 2021 redistricting process. The NRAF works closely and coordinates with End Citizen’s United/Let America Vote. (not tax-deductible)

• Common Cause Since 1970, it has been advocating for free, fair, accessible elections. (tax-deductible)

2. CONTACT your Senators to urge them to pass For the People Act and reform the filibuster. Click here to send an email to your Senator and/or you can call the Congressional switchboard to connect to your Senators’ office at 202-499-6085. To see where your Senators stand on eliminating the filibuster click here.

 

3. VOLUNTEER for organizations promoting For the People Act.

• Become a For the People Texter with End Citizen’s United/Let America Vote.
• Join a For the People Phone Bank with Common Cause.

 

4. HOLD corporations accountable for supporting GOP lawmakers who are sponsoring/co-sponsoring/voting for voter suppression laws.

• For a list of states that have passed or intend to pass voter suppression laws, go to the Voting Rights Lab which provides an up-to-date tracking dashboard.
• For information on companies that are headquartered in such states, or who have financially supported GOP lawmaker’s attempts to suppress the vote, we recommend:

1. Subscribing to Popular Information, a free online newsletter written by Judd Legum that addresses, among other important topics, issues of corporate responsibility in politics.
2. Reviewing the list of the top corporations that have contributed to state lawmakers supporting voter suppression bills at Public Citizen.

If you are a customer or a potential customer of any listed company, we recommend going to that company’s website and contacting customer service and/or direct messaging them to make your opinion known. Another effective method is to add tweets to a company’s Twitter feed and/or post on their other social media platforms.

• Scroll back up

 

• Pick just ONE THING

 

• Do it right now before you close this!

 

Do YOUR part to help stop voter suppression!

Our ever so fragile democracy, which so many brave men and women have died to protect, depends on YOU now!

WE ARE ONLY ONE ELECTION AWAY FROM LOSING OUR DEMOCRACY.

PASS THIS ON, PLEASE

WoW: OUR BIGGEST THREAT

“Stand up for God’s sake and support the American right to vote!”

President Joe Biden

 

The most present danger and egregious threat to our democracy is driven by White power, oppression and political greed.

The most important thing you can do RIGHT NOW to protect EVERY American’s democratic right to vote will be to support the For the People Act of 2021 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Sinking to a new low, the desperate, shameless Republican state lawmakers are attempting to make the act of voting as difficult as possible for low-income people and people of color. They have come to realize that suppressing certain groups from their right to vote is the only way they can maintain power. They are doing whatever they can to pass voter restriction laws by:

• Shutting down voting centers and voting box access in lower-income neighborhoods and increasing them in affluent/gated communities. For example, Kentucky (Mitch McConnell’s state) reduced polling places from 3,700 places to 200. Fewer voting places equal longer lines, which affects 45% more people of color than whites and to add insult to injury, the new laws disallow giving water to those in line.

 

• Purging voter polls—by eliminating countless of thousands of people who have a recent, inactive voting history, with zero evidence of them as dead/moved. These lists were mostly made up of Black and Latinx voters, countless thousands of whom had to fight to get reinstated for the 2020 election.

 

• Restricting early voting, thereby making it very difficult for people whose time is restricted by their responsibilities of work and child care. Many states are attempting to eliminate early voting on workday evenings and Sundays known as “Souls to the Polls”, which targets Black religious organizations.

 

• Restricting absentee voting, which makes it more difficult for the disabled and those with extenuating circumstances and responsibilities, mostly lower income and people of color who are doing what they can to make ends meet. Extensive research has repeatedly provided evidence showing that fraud is almost non-existent and for years, several states have voted almost completely on absentee ballots without any problems.

 

• Enforcing unreasonably rigid voting ID restrictions. They have eliminated names from the voting list if even a hyphen was missing. When North Dakota required voters to show an ID with a residential street address just a few weeks before election day, many Native American were scrambling to qualify. Many were turned away because most Native reservations don’t use street addresses, and residents rely on P.O. boxes as their mailing address instead. These ID restrictions can sometimes feel a bit arbitrary, like in Texas, where a handgun license qualifies one to vote, but not a valid student ID.

 

The 400+ voter suppression bills passed or pending at the state level threaten every citizen’s ability to freely elect our leaders. These anti-democratic bills can be defeated, and laws already passed are being fiercely challenged in the courts.

It also is crucial that For the People Act (HR1/S1) be signed into law ASAP to mitigate the damage caused by these state laws, strengthen our elections, and protect our democracy

To help make this happen, PLEASE DO JUST ONE OF THESE:

 

1. DONATE to organizations that are fighting voter suppression laws and advocating for the swift passage of For the People Act.

 

• Democracy Docket Founded by Marc Elias, it provides information about voting rights and threats to our democratic systems. It has instituted litigation challenging multiple state voter suppression laws and has an impressive track record of wins. Democracy Docket works closely and coordinates with the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, and other legal advocacy organizations. To donate to Marc’s (c4)DD Action Fund (DDAF) via Act Blue click here. (not tax-deductible)

 

• End Citizen’s United/Let America Vote Action Fund These two organizations, run by President Tiffany Muller, recently merged allowing them to take a coordinated approach to two of the biggest challenges facing our democracy: big money and voter suppression. (not tax-deductible)

 

• National Redistricting Action Fund Led by Eric Holder, this organization organizes, educates, and engages supporters both in the digital space and on the ground to restore fair representation to Congress and state legislatures, which will be critical during the 2021 redistricting process. The NRAF works closely and coordinates with End Citizen’s United/Let America Vote. (not tax-deductible)

 

• Common Cause Since 1970, it has been advocating for free, fair, accessible elections. (tax-deductible)

 

2. CONTACT your Senators to urge them to pass For the People Act and reform the filibuster. Click here to send an email to your Senator and/or you can call the Congressional switchboard to connect to your Senators’ office at 202-499-6085. To see where your Senators stand on eliminating the filibuster click here.

 

3. VOLUNTEER for organizations promoting For the People Act.

• Become a For the People Texter with End Citizen’s United/Let America Vote.
• Join a For the People Phone Bank with Common Cause.

 

4. HOLD corporations accountable for supporting GOP lawmakers who are sponsoring/co-sponsoring/voting for voter suppression laws.

• For a list of states that have passed or intend to pass voter suppression laws, go to the Voting Rights Lab which provides an up-to-date tracking dashboard.
• For information on companies that are headquartered in such states, or who have financially supported GOP lawmaker’s attempts to suppress the vote, we recommend:

1. Subscribing to Popular Information, a free online newsletter written by Judd Legum that addresses, among other important topics, issues of corporate responsibility in politics.
2. Reviewing the list of the top corporations that have contributed to state lawmakers supporting voter suppression bills at Public Citizen.

 

If you are a customer or a potential customer of any listed company, we recommend going to that company’s website and contacting customer service and/or direct messaging them to make your opinion known. Another effective method is to add tweets to a company’s Twitter feed and/or post on their other social media platforms.

 

• Scroll back up

 

• Pick just ONE THING

 

• Do it right now before you close this!

 

Do YOUR part to help stop voter suppression!

Our ever so fragile democracy, which so many brave men and women have died to protect, depends on YOU now!

WE ARE ONLY ONE ELECTION AWAY FROM LOSING OUR DEMOCRACY.

PASS THIS ON, PLEASE

WoW: Answer to Sir Lancelot Fairytale

The Answer to the Sir Lancelot Fairy Tale

In last week’s WoW, we left off with Lancelot pondering the predicament of:

“During the day, did he want a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch?

Or… would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments.

What would YOU do?”

Noble Lancelot answered the witch: he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

Now of course the joke ending is:

“If you don’t let a woman have her own way, things will get ugly!”

But a more enlightened quote might be…

“Only those who respect the personality of others can be of real use to them.”

Albert Schweitzer

There is a lot of wisdom in Lancelot’s decision. When we try to manipulate or control others, overtly or covertly, women or men; thinking we know what is best for them better than they do, inevitably things will backfire.

No one likes to be “told” what to do. No wants to work for or live with someone who doesn’t respect their right and ability to make good decisions. This is most especially true for children. How do they learn if others decide everything for them?

Perhaps a more effective approach with children would be to help them sort out the choices in front of them. Discuss the pros and cons of each decision, and then allow them to make their own choices. They will either reap the rewards or pay the consequences. If they fail, acknowledge them for being willing to take a step and simply ask them what they learned.

With a spouse or a friend, perhaps what is more empowering than our judgments and criticisms or our attempts to persuade them in a direction we think they should take, would be to help them sort through their options (if they are willing to do so), and tell them you trust they will make the right choice for them.

Don’t offer unwanted advice or tell them what they should do. After all, it is their life, not yours. If they fail, then stand beside them and let them know you believe in them. Tell them, “It’ll be better next time.” Simply give them your support and never say, “I told you so.”

The same is true for employees. Clearly, if you’re in a leadership position, you have a greater right to determine what the choices are and sometimes it’s “do the job as required or leave.” But otherwise, it’s been my experience that many times, my employees saw choices I never did. (I always tried to hire people smarter than I and their decisions often impressed me.)

When you truly respect someone, then you respect their ability to not only make their own decisions, but you also trust their ability to recover from any mistakes made, learn the lesson, and move on.

Amazing things happen when people feel supported to direct their own lives.

WoW: A Fairytale

“The first duty of love is to listen.” Paul Tillich     A Fairy Tale Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him, but was moved by Arthur’s youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a tough question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question? What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch’s proposition to have an answer by year’s end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high, as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived, and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur’s closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big a sacrifice compared to Arthur’s life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed, and the witch answered Arthur’s question thus: “What a woman really wants,” she answered, “… is to be in charge of her own life.” Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew the witch had uttered a great truth, and that Arthur’s life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached, and Lancelot, preparing himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and a beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day? Or night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments? What would YOU do?  (Look for the answer coming soon…)

WoW: May I Ask You To Open My Peanuts

May I Ask You to Open My Peanuts?    “Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings.” ~ Miles Franklin   If you sit next to me on an airplane, get ready, because due to my arthritic hands, you will likely be asked to open my peanuts. And if I’m hungry and haven’t had a chance to buy a salad before boarding, I may request of you to open that disgusting sausage wrapped in that hard-to-open plastic—as well as the puny little cracker and cheese hors d’oeuvre. I used to avoid making these requests, thinking it an imposition, but I have found that people love to help and are happy to do so. Besides, it frequently opens up a conversation that leads to a deeper connection that can often be better than just sitting there sharing the same stale air. “Do you have arthritis? My sister has it…” and the conversation continues, often ending up with the person telling me their personal history and deepest, most intimate problems. Of course, I always test to see if they are interested in talking and can tell instantly by the tone of their voice when I ask where they are from, and naturally, there are times when I also don’t want to talk to anyone and so we just snore together. But most of the time, if there is a mutual opening, I find these exchanges to be very sweet and enriching. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps it’s because I’m safe, a complete stranger they’ll never see again, or maybe it’s because I’ve heard so many, many life stories over the years and nothing shocks me. Or maybe it’s because I’m interested and care, or I’m not afraid to go deeper or to share openly about the highs and lows of my own life as well that soon has both of us engaged in a deep sharing. But I know that when the plane lands, I am a better person for it and I hope they are, too. I so fervently believe in the principles I have been sharing for 43 years that to keep them to myself is like withholding a precious gift. I have watched thousands of lives change before my eyes, so how can I keep from asking a question that might help someone see something that could transform their life? How can I keep from suggesting to a CEO that maybe he’s been focusing on the wrong thing, that maybe he’s the problem and not his people? How can I not ask the husband what role he has played in the demise of his marriage? How can I avoid sharing with a mother that maybe her children need boundaries and ask her if being overly permissive is generated by her need to be loved and liked, which is why she doesn’t discipline? How can I not encourage a young man to face his fears of failure and shoot for his dreams no matter what? Or ask a woman why she isn’t taking time for herself and why she thinks everyone else is so much more important than she? It has been my experience most people are truly ready to hear these things. Maybe it’s an “energy” thing that we sat together, I don’t know, but if I can offer one moment of compassion, caring or praise and acknowledgment to another, I feel complete. Likewise, their sharing enriches me and fills me with the warmth of human connection as my understanding of the universal human condition deepens. I can see myself in each and every person and I know I have lived through or can see something of myself in each and every story. When I am talking, I may as well be sitting in front of a mirror, for there is not one thing I say that I haven’t said to myself or don’t also need to hear. It is always an opportunity for me to recognize and admit to my own shortcomings, fears, doubts and errors, successes, hopes and dreams.   “Are we not like two volumes of one book?” ~Marceline Desbordes-Valmore So there we are, two humans flying through the air, sharing a piece of our lives. When we touch down on the tarmac, I would hope we have both grown a little, that we have, at least, given each other an opportunity to think a little differently and to question our next step in life. Personally, I am grateful for the moment in time I have shared with a perfect stranger, for we have just experienced what it means to really relate. And, if we both chose to be together in silence, at least we got to share a simple human moment of giving and receiving when you opened my peanuts, and I got to thank you for your kindness.