Some days I search for a topic to write about and other days the topic finds me.
Today's topic found me. Actually, it found me two days ago, but I needed to have the experience three days in a row before realizing that I was being beckoned.
Monday. I met another mother at Matthew's school, so we coordinate a class fundraiser. When we arrived most of the children were still on the playground - all except three little girls who were clearly excited to be inside where the action was. You remember what it is like to be that age. Even the smallest privilege makes you feel special. The time alone with two adults left these three girls beaming. Seizing the moment, I began asking them questions: "What is your favorite subject?" "How many brothers and sisters do you have?" "Show me where you sit." And, in exchange for my time and interest, the girls responded enthusiastically.
My counterpart stood to the side, periodically looking up, but mostly engrossed in an exchange of text messages.
Tuesday. Jack and I went to Target, so he could select a birthday present for Matthew. When we got to the register an elderly employee was standing tucked between the register and the candy rack. After waiting twenty seconds or so, I politely said, "Excuse me, may we check out with you?" She immediately took her position behind the register and, while pointing toward a woman who was leaving the store, said this: "I am sorry. I had to step away from the register. That woman was on her cell phone the whole time. She didn't say one word to me and it made me so mad. I stepped away to calm down."
I nodded my head empathically, knowing full well I've done the same thing, but suddenly embarrassed.
Wednesday. The line-up for this week's Rotary meeting was impressive. The first part of the meeting was a delegation of Rotarians visiting from New Zealand. They compiled an interesting and interactive presentation about what their lives are like almost 9,000 miles away. The slide show was filled with family pictures from home and other fun facts about New Zealand that make them proud. Next was an emotional presentation by Alexey Talia, a young philanthropist who found his life's purpose after having both arms and legs blown off by a land mine in his native country of Belarus. His message was both heart wrenching and inspiring.
Except, not to the woman who was sitting on my left. She sat with a Blackberry in her lap, reading and responding to emails.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
At the expense of sounding like a stick in the mud, might I suggest that, in this fast paced and unrelenting world where we live, the greatest gift that we give children, friends, even strangers, and ourselves is the gift of being fully present? It is the first, and arguably the most important Shine Principle of all.
We have pigged out on technology. We have overindulged and, in doing so, allowed our heads to expand like our waist lines. We have convinced ourselves that we are more important than we are and made excuses for why we can't possibly finish one interaction before having another. The kindergarten girls, the woman in Target, the visiting Rotarians, and Alexey... they were the main course. Not the technology so many of us are tempted to gorge ourselves on instead.
Rant over. Now go talk to someone.
Shining off until tomorrow...