Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Kindness of Connection

"Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another."
George Eliot

The other day, as I was having "one of those days," I ran into a woman I have known since high school.  A couple of years older than me, she is someone I have always been happy to see even if we do not keep up with each other.  I admire her for many reasons, including her faith and her capacity for friendship.

We were at an event and she asked me how I was doing.  She is one of those people who actually asks you questions about your life and with whom you feel comfortable sharing.  There seems to be no judgment, only concern and caring.  And she has that terrific quality of being able to be happy for you.  At one point, we sat on a stone bench in the courtyard of a beautiful old building and spoke for a few minutes.

As I reflected on my day later, those moments of pleasant conversation stood out as the highlight of my day.  By being truly present with me, this woman shared the kindness of connection  quite a gift on a day when I was not feeling very connected.

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