Did you ever have a simple moment that changed your life? Perhaps you didn’t think twice about it when it was happening, but later on you realized the impact.
The invite.
One of these moments for me was when my daughter, Katie, began kindergarten. I couldn’t have been more excited, because we loved her teacher. Mrs. Clark was well known for being amazing on many levels. One day, at the beginning of the school year, she approached me and did something so simple. She invited me. Me, a new parent at the school, trying to connect and find a new sense of community. She asked if I would like to join the PTA and volunteer at the school. Without hesitation, I accepted and immediately felt valued and needed. That led me on a journey of saying ‘YES’ time after time, volunteering at my kids’ schools, boy scouts, girl scouts, you name it. Cherished memories that may not have happened if not for her simple invite.
I mention this because it happened again, but this time I was the one sending out the invites. At a recent library celebration, patrons came to a drop-in Connect and Color®. As they entered the room, they received an invite. An invite to join us in community to create a large Masterpiece. “We need your help” flowed from me over and over again. I knew the impact of these words, in this day and age with isolation and loneliness skyrocketing. Patrons rose to the occasion. Singles, couples, families, individuals, young and old alike. It was beautiful. They came, colored, connected, and later returned to see the finished Masterpiece and were in awe of what they had accomplished together.
The awe.
One of the many reasons I do what I do is because of the finished Connect and Color®. The Masterpiece. It amazes me that two people sitting on opposite sides of the room color in a similar technique with colors and their pieces end up next to each other and there is this synergy that happens. Perhaps we all have more in common with each other than we know. Taking some quiet time to be together helps us see our commonalities more and our differences less. It’s awe inspiring.
The AHA moment.
At this same event, a young man came and colored. He relaxed, we chatted, and when he was finished, he put his piece up on the board. Then he had an AHA moment and marveled at what was happening. Not only that we were creating a Masterpiece, but that we were all TOGETHER, a bunch of random people with different lives, but for a moment we were in community with each other. A common goal. A common purpose. And that made me hold back tears. He got it!
So I hope you cherish the simple moments. Let them transform you, and then share them with others in community. Let’s celebrate our commonalities and forget about our differences. That’s when the AHA moments really happen! Promise!
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