Landing on Mars

I have a music enthusiast for a daughter. I notice how she feels the music through singing the lyrics, dancing to the rhythm, humming the tune. While sitting with her recently, she told me her favorite song is "Just the Way You Are", to which I enthusiastically inquired "Oh, Billy Joel"? She looked at me like I had just spoken in a foreign language and spontaneously replied, "eh, Bruno Mars". Ah, lightbulb moment!

At that moment I saw the vast in between, as my senses were upswept with the pullback of the generational gap. Yet, in this in between, or gap, my young inner girl was meeting her at that moment with something that was important to her. I recognized the similarities between the songs we both enjoy, which belt loving someone just as they are. Isn't it curious how in meeting someone where they are, we tend to scroll through our own bank of experience, whether met immediately or not, to come up with a connection?

From this space of connection, I enjoy honoring individuality through expression. Regardless of the relationship, we relate to each other through the same human emotions, and in this space of being able to meet and feel commonly, the empathy joins us together and maintains connection.

Discover Your "Self"

You do not need to wait for others in the world to reflect back to you what they see.  Projecting your true self (what is inside) can be vulnerable. It can feel easier to wait to see what you think is needed before you put yourself out there and step in. It can appear easier to go with the flock, and be like others, rather than projecting your truth. It can be the difference between putting your cards on the table to be a participant in life, or holding and hiding them for keeps. This reminds me of a powerful poem.

Mother Teresa – Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.