I may not know you, but that won't stop me from talking to you.
Take Pen to Paper: Edition 40 - Making small connections is a source of good for others.
Hello Friends,
I’m glad you’re back. And if you are new to Pen to Paper, welcome!
I’ve been looking for opportunities. My weekly trip to the grocery paid off once again.
While checking out, the cashier scanned the rye bread twice. She told me about trying rye bread once and not liking it.
This was my opportunity.
Her confession brought forth a happy memory for me.
My grandmother always kept a package of Pepperidge Farm Party Bread Jewish Rye (you can still buy it), a small 3 x 3 loaf sliced thin, wrapped in cellophane. She kept it for making sandwiches to serve at her painting club, but we ate it out of the wrapper. To us, it was a treat.
After I shared my happy memory with the cashier, she shared one about her grandmother. We both smiled at our memories.
We need people. We need people to notice us and talk to us. Small moments of good with others can happen anytime, anywhere.
Small human connections give us a boost of happiness.
I’ve been thinking a lot about sharing the good that we experience.
I watched an interview with writer Laurie Stone. She explained her five-item checklist for story development. Two of the items struck me on a personal note:
Tell the reader about something you love. This can mean something as simple as describing your favorite pizza.
Make the reader laugh. It doesn’t have to be a laugh-out-loud laugh. It can be a chuckle or a smile.
Most days, we experience something we love. If we don’t, we need to. The same is true for laughter.
The problem? We don’t always talk about it or share it with others. We should.
I’m guilty of not sharing with others the things I love or small experiences of good. Why don’t I do that? I need to talk about and write gratitude for them, like my conversation about rye bread.
Sharing a laugh or what you love can change your’s and someone else’s day.
Last week as I got out of the car to go into a store, I heard a car horn beep. Looking over, I saw my daughter-in-law hop out of the car to say hello. I laughed, surprised to see her.
What was she up to?
She had just left a neighboring grocery store and saw me get out of my car. We walked together for a few minutes while her groceries waited in her car. I showed her what I was going to buy.
She didn’t have to do that. She made my day. I love her for taking these small actions. I’m not sure she realizes what she’s doing. It comes naturally. That’s what comes from practice.
I’m learning to be conscious of what I love and what makes me laugh every day. When I returned home, I told my husband about my daughter-in-law surprising me.
Sharing those experiences can be an easy way to make small human connections.
Connections bringing happiness can turn someone’s day around.
Don’t you want to be the source of that?
A quote: “The consequences of our notions cannot be known to us, because they ripple outward into a limitless world.” - Leo Tolstoy
I’m grateful for deciding to write this newsletter. It’s an opportunity to possibly start a ripple.
This story tells how a simple greeting may be enough.
Guess what! There are benefits to talking with strangers.
I’m grateful for the role models in my life that demonstrated how easy it is to strike up a conversation with any stranger. My mother was the master at this.
Do you want to know the world’s friendliest cities? Here’s a list.
It’s good that practice makes you better. You get better by practicing greeting strangers, and it gets easier.
Thank you for reading!
Do you make a habit of sharing what you love and what makes you laugh with others? How do you feel when strangers start a conversation with you? I would love to know. Leave a comment!
Until next week, take the time to notice what you share with others. If you liked this newsletter, share it with someone who might like to too.
❤
Susan
Great advise! Passed it on!!