open

Little moments to be thankful for today, moments when I found myself in conversation with strangers. I suppose "conversation" might not be the right term. More like brief exchanges, little exchanges of humanity. I was unusually open to it today-- open to connecting with strangers. Some days I'm just a bit more willing to reach out and risk that kind of connecting. I don't think it's that I'm more confident or patient or gregarious on such days-- I couldn't really say what factors are involved. I'm aware of people's desire to connect most of the time-- the world is FULL of lonely people-- but I guess I don't always feel I have much to give. Today, I listened and spoke with the clerk at Safeway, the elderly woman on the third floor, the guy at Norman's who didn't know how to cook the bok choy he just bought, the clerk at Santa Barbara market, the homeless guy crossing the street with me, my new neighbour on the sixth floor. It doesn't take long to connect, really. Just the seconds or minutes surrounding a shopping purchase or a trip on the elevator, or the wait for a light to change so you can cross the street. I dare to believe it makes a difference to be noticed, and to be open to noticing.