Just a thought… The most important things in life are the connections you make with others. [Tom Ford]
I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and that you were able to gather with those you love (and some you can tolerate for the holidays)! We were fortunate, as always, to be surrounded for our Thanksgiving dinner by those we love.
This year, the holiday didn’t coincide with our grandson’s birthday; it comes tomorrow and wraps up the Birthdaypalooza that begins with mine in September, is followed by little Jane’s (4th this year) and then ends tomorrow with Colin’s. It’s like the 15 Days of Cakemas with a little pumpkin pie thrown into the mix. Is that a Hallmark Movie yet, Brooke?
Speaking of our daughter-in-law, as I hope you you saw on Facebook last Monday with October’s start, Brooke is reminding you that she’s taking last orders for her Christmas in Heaven lanterns. I put together a short video where Brooke describes in her own words how making these lanterns touches her own heart. You can view it at the end of today’s blog.
The next ten weeks or so include myriad celebrations (including the solemn observation that comes on Remembrance Day, of course) during which we are reminded that not everyone is fortunate to be with family or loved ones. It’s something that’s amplified when the table setting is for one, and I get that. And it’s why I wanted to share something I spotted the other day at a coffee shop in the sweet little nearby town of Sidney, BC.
As I stood near the counter, waiting for my friend to pick up her bagel, I noticed a little card. Behind it was a stack of pamphlets.
They’re pretty self-explanatory: you put the little card on your café table and hope that perhaps someone will stop by, take a seat and ask how you’re doing today.
I’d like to think that if I found myself with a coffee in my hand and some time to sit, I’d do just that; probably not putting out the card, but pulling up a seat. I’m not sure I’ve ever just gone into a shop and sat by myself unless I was waiting for someone else; I saw a meme from Thinking Minds that said, “Eating alone in a crowded restaurant is the highest level of self confidence a person can have.” Is it true for you? It certainly is for me. I think Lisa and I will discuss it on our podcast Gracefully & Frankly in weeks to come.
In the meantime, that little card was a lovely reminder to me of how making a connection can be so important. And who knows what gifts – friendship perhaps – might come our way just from saying “yes?”
Enjoy the rest of this shortened week and thank you for coming by. Tonight, a certain little Ugly Duckling (said to be an autobiographical story of sorts from Hans Christian Andersen) returns to Drift. Perhaps you’ll enjoy it on a different level now that you know that; or maybe – and this would be the best of all – you’ll just fall asleep. That’s the plan!
Be well and as promised, here’s that Christmas in Heaven lantern reminder for you.