I was walking on the beach, enjoying the sunshine, the sea breeze and the waves quietly lapping on the shore. As I turned back, I started walking along side some footprints I assumed were mine.
Then I realized they weren’t mine…
But they sure looked like mine, and it reminded me of how alike we all are.
It’s amazing how often we mistake “a bit different” for “nothing like me.”
This lesson wasn’t new…I learned it a few years ago when I was leading a high school building expedition in Malawi, Africa with the Warm Hearts Foundation (a non-profit I serve on the board of). There were 14 Americans on the expedition, a few who had never been outside the US.
We befriended the women in the village who came to help build their village’s new school each day. They were invested in the project because it was their children who would benefit from the education they would receive. We worked together for 2 weeks. We would roll our eyes together when the work got heavy, sing songs when the work got boring and laugh when the children did something silly.
One of the volunteers commented one afternoon that she was surprised at how much we had in common with the women of the village.
“They just want their kids to be happy and healthy and have opportunities in their future. They want a roof over their head and food on the table, and they do what they need to do to make that happen. That’s exactly what I do back at home.”
When we start with what we have in common, empathy comes easier. Curiosity comes easier. Conflict becomes easier to navigate. Instead of assuming someone is “the other,” look for what’s familiar and it’s easier to forgive those minor things that might annoy us, but really don’t matter all that much.
So give it a shot! That neighbor who bugs you but isn’t moving any time soon? That vendor who gets under your skin but delivers a great product? Or that co-worker you find really hard to deal with, but have to collaborate with in order to do your job? Make a list of things you have in common. It’ll open up the possibility for connection, and might just change your interactions and your day!
Because sometimes those footprints in the sand might as well be yours, and are a wonderful path to connection!
Go get ’em, Tiger!
Emmy award winning sports journalist Kate Delaney knew that she had the same skills and talents as her male counterparts, so despite men telling her again and again “no”, she persevered, tried again, invented new ways, and became incredible successful and fulfilled! She tells us about her amazing journey of courage, lack of bitterness and innovation on this week’s episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone podcast! She’s an inspiration, so listen in! There’s something for everyone.
What I’m excited about:
I’ve been enjoying reminiscing the best parts from my Alaskan adventure, and one is that we saw all the colors of bears and they were all happily going about their business. (and they didn’t eat me!)
Black bears munching berries from the boat tour out of Seward.
Grizzley’s gorging on salmon at Katmai National Park.
A polar bear ripping into meat on a pile of discarded whale bones in Utquagvik!
