Your Fellow Human

There is an unspoken lesson I learned from Stanley; but one I want to share with you all

His gentle demeanor 

His natural inclination to smile at and share what he has with a stranger 

His reserved nature and the reminder that what is yours, that your story, it remains with you on your terms

That sharing it with another is a deep form of trust and that everyone doesn’t deserve that trust

My first time meeting Stanley reminded me of that feeling when you are in a place your feel a bit, out of place, like everyone around you is in a world you maybe just don’t fit into, and then you look up and find that someone else shares that same feeling

That feeling that one stranger choosing to see you and in a simple act of sharing a smile can communicate a thousand words, a thousand feelings, and one invaluable human gift… the chance to be seen and understood 

So often we go through life in our own space, in our own world, looking up from time to time to be sure we are still on the right path, but I’ve found so much more in remembering that our world is shared

That it’s more important to fix our gaze and attention around us, that once in a while taking time to look down, reflect, and process is ok, but that we miss so much more when we fix our eyes on ourselves, or our phones

I shared a brief moment with a stranger, which turned to a conversation, which allowed me to know a bit of what has made him who he is, which led to me sharing the tiniest bit of who he is with you…

All because of a smile, a muffin that gave an excuse for conversation, and a gaze that wanted to see the world we share

So that lesson; look up, smile, don’t be afraid to connect with another over a simple moment in life, such moments are never a waste of time

So tune in today and meet Stanley, a man the values showing up for others because we can, a man with many dreams yet to be realized, and a man that believes in not giving advice but one that wants us to remember to think about whatever it is we need to do or become

And to you Stanley thank you, thank you for being one that looks at those around him, that gives a smile quickly, that doesn’t fear letting someone else know him, and for sharing time in a coffee shop with me