When Strangers Click

When Strangers Click

Yes this is a title of a great documentary; it is also a great discussion in my real life yesterday…and all days.

The documentary describes a film about several peoples’ experience of finding mates on the Internet. It is not, however, your typical story of miraculous and strange love, nor catfish experiences. It is a great film about real relationships. People who find each other by design or accident, and connect on levels that we all have the ability and fortune to connect on but somehow miss the opportunities as they are presenting themselves.



TedX: Vienna is doing a series all about connection! "I share therefore I am"

 I had a great day yesterday, volunteering as a bar tender at the Moose. It happened to be the day of several different birthdays that were celebrated at the lodge. I got to talk with my mom on Skype which I haven’t been able to do in more than a year, and she got to reconnect with a friend she met when she last visited me. What were the chances that that friend would be in town, at the lodge, on that day? The chances were typical if you really, really stay present to what the Universe brings to the table of “the reason we are here.” There is no purpose in life more important than connecting with others, in my opinion.

Lisa Hallow Designs Vintage Remix

One of the birthdays being celebrated came at the end of my day when just before closing a trio came in. One amazing man who looks 30 years younger than he is, his birthday girl friend, and their mutual friend Lisa. Lisa was the connection the Universe presented to me in this moment. A stunning woman who is “full”…of everything! Wearing a G O R G E O U S black blouse that reflected her personality, Lisa is textured, smooth, luxurious, and historically stylish in both look and experience. Lisa has an excellent sense of business, and love of art and jewelry. She’s been designing jewelry almost her whole life and we may get together on a local proposal.

 

Continuing with the theme of connection, have you ever met someone that you instantly connect with? Last night I got to spend time with one of my favorite girlfriends. She’s a bar tender but last night we got to sit together on the customer side. We met 8 years ago when she complimented my jewelry and it has been love ever since. A new friend I met about a month ago, I call him “tickleman” because of his deep, vibrating voice, was also at the club last night…it seems we only go when the other is going (without planning!) I made some new friends there too, both from the Philippines, one a special ed teacher of moderate to severe students; I introduced him to my favorite video on autism by Amanda Baggs. The first part of the video is in her "native" language; then she translates it for us...she's absolutely brilliant....I am humbled.

Last night’s connections may turn out to be significant, and with some don’t seem like “connections” because they are long standing friendships. However, the Universe wants us to know that the “new” does not have to wear off of everything; our perceptions and willingness are the fabric softeners of life, making anything fresh if we chose. So go out with a renewed perception and be willing to see the connections that exist in your life and the new ones you will surely encounter on your intentional journey to connect. Life cannot be lived without your presence…without your connection.

Photo: Whipplehill.net

 

Whose Reality?

Almost 49 years of life and love. Love? Really?

When I was a little girl, love was The Brady Bunch, The  Partridge Family, and Father Knows Best. When I was a pre-teen love was Shirley Temple, Dorris Day, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, and Elvis on Sunday. When I was a teen-ager love was Judy Blume, Soul Train, and American Band Stand. When I was in High School love was sad and lonely; it was unrequited Bobby Balentine, and requited Bruce Hammer, until..... Until Jennifer Matthews became the first friend in a string of many to betray my trust, loyalty, friendship, and belief. And Bruce became the first love in a string of many to betray my trust, loyalty, friendship, belief and heart.

Tamra Dozier

At almost-49 I look at the patterns of love in my life. Every boyfriend I have ever had has cheated on me with someone close to me, except one, who cheated on me with his own selfishness. It has cost me much in my life: a timely education, a potential for career to be fulfilled, a natural child birth.

At almost-49 I look at what I believe about love and realize the price I have refused to pay: I refuse to become jaded and have refused to pay with my belief that love is real. At almost-49 I continue to choose love; I continue to grow.

I still believe in the media and literary love, at almost-49. I still believe that my heart has a mate, somewhere. I believe in love, and love believes in me. My love is waiting for me to believe in me.

Brooke Fraser

At almost-49 I believe I am a good friend, a good citizen, a good mother...I AM good. I'm not "trying" to be, I AM. I look at the patterns of love in my life and I see growth, and I see perseverance, and I wonder what more there is to learn. What is left to learn? Is it to "get real"? Maybe. And maybe reality is not something we discuss, or learn, but something we "know".

What is reality? Is it not trusting? Is it not believing? Is it guarding one's self from pain? Is reality that state in which one lowers expectations to what might be possible when all else seems impossible? It is not in my nature to expect less. I can not expect less loyalty, less honesty, less selfLESSness, of myself or of others. I cannot give up on others, I cannot give up on my self.

I must continue to learn...until I know, without thinking, that I AM love. I wonder how long I get to live when I know that I AM love? I can't yet imagine what other lesson there is to learn after that; they haven't made a Sunday Musical Movie or Sit-Com about it yet.... Or have they!?