Seems that living is, often, difficult these days. Lingering reverberations from COVID, upheavals and warring countries, impending elections, fractionalized society, wild and dangerous weather, snarky comments from complete strangers on social media platforms; and, so much more. Add to all this the wear and tear of daily life – illnesses, finances, deaths, and all the mundane stuff that requires our attentions and energies. It’s no wonder folks can be argumentative, short-tempered, and downright nasty sometimes.
However, here’s the thing: if what you say and/or do you lead with love, it can begin to change your point of view and, ultimately, the outcome.
For example, the other day my husband and I were in a big box store. He’d made comment to a woman that was somewhat playful and innocent. It was a brief exchange. Both smiled and moved on. A bit later he and I passed her, again. She made reference to the previous encounter and the three of us started talking about how easy, everyday conversations seemed to happen less and less as hand-held devices have become where lots of folks focus; and, not on/with each other. A fourth woman came up on our conversation and agreed with what she heard. For several minutes all four of us were engaged, sharing ideas and information, laughing and bemoaning what seemed to have become a less friendly world.
What, you might ask, has this example to do with the title of this brief piece? To be open and available to another person you must, first, acknowledge each other. To be able to acknowledge each other means that you must both, literally, see each other. That’s the first part.
The second part is that you’re at ease and open to converse with another person. It can be a simple nod of the head as you pass each other, acknowledging that, and moving on. Takes no time at all.
There’s the third part – time. We seem to be in such a rush to get somewhere that we blaze through lines, cut folks off on the road, belly ache when we have to wait longer than we want. Patience. Rather than belly aching, enjoy the few moments (more or less) to just be still, at rest as it were. Relax.
All three parts require that one person sees the other person, takes the time to share an acknowledgement and/or a word or two; and, recognizes that we’re all in this life together. Some days are good. Some days are wonder-filled (sic). Some days are heavy loads. If we vibrate love like a tuning fork, everything we do and/or say comes through those vibrations.
Will any of this change the course of human history? I don’t know. What I do know is that it might make a stranger’s life just a bit better, might briefly lift the invisible load they’re carrying that day. That counts. That counts every time.
Jessan Dunn Otis|Writer 