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| Making connections comes naturally for people who belong to Toastmasters, including Ray Metz and Harold Vroman. Photo by Liz Cezat. |
One of the most pleasing aspects of life is to make a
genuine connection with the people around you. No matter what your
circumstances – rich, poor, sick, healthy, young, old or middle-aged – if you
can relate to people in a humane and compassionate manner, you are golden and
so are the people you come in contact with.
The connections go beyond words; they encompass actions and
attitudes. It could be an 80-year-old grandmother, whose eyes crinkle with
delight when you tell her how pretty she looks in her pink sweater. Or an infant
just 8 days old, whose tiny fingers grasp yours as you bend down close and gaze
into her eyes. It could be a janitor at a shopping mall who is listening to a Tigers’
game that prompts you to comment about the team’s winning streak – bringing a
wide smile to his face. It could be an agency intern doing on-site work at your
corporate location who appears to lack confidence; yet when you tell her that
you appreciate her efforts, there’s a glow of delighted surprise on her face as
she stands up taller.
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| My grand daughter Ellie being held for the first time by fellow grand parent Mike Schultz. Photo by Liz Cezat. |
These are small interactions yet they allow us the opportunity
to practice kindness and courtesy, and show genuine love for each other.
Take a moment to really interact with people in your life.
Not just family and friends, but strangers – people who seemingly are totally
different than you. I think you will find that when you reach out and touch
someone: with kind words, holding a door open for them to pass through, or
simply smiling, you will find real treasure.
Give it a try and report back on your experience. Don’t let
shyness or being introverted stop you – seek to make a connection with real
people today and every day.
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