The Navigator

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth.  It’s also a time that many choose to “spring clean”. 

I was pulling out of my garage and, as I looked around the space, I thought “wow, there’s a lot of crap in here that needs to be thrown out!”  It’s just stuff that hasn’t been touched or looked at in years.  I have closets that look like that too:)  I also wondered what kind of treasures I might find.  Things I’d forgotten I had because they’d been tucked away and out of site. 

I have also noticed of late that I have some past relationships surfacing.  People I haven’t heard from in years.  Others have shared with me similar experiences.  So why the reconnecting after so many years have passed?  That was a bit of a tangent, but not really, more of a segue. 

I think its like the stuff in my garage.  If I took a look at it all, there are probably some things that need to be released and there are probably some treasures in there as well…things I’d forgotten about but might actually serve me quite well in my life now.

One of the people who has surfaced is someone who I think of very fondly.  My greatest memories are of us staying up all night talking about everything under the sun.  Our hopes, dreams, disappointments, desires, everything.  

When I shared this with others, I find a common theme emerging.  Most don’t have relationships like this.  Not with their friends, family, significant others.  We just don’t tend to open up and share at that level on a regular basis.  We tend to talk about the weather, our jobs, our families…the roles we play in life but not really about who we are at our core. 

I remember someone telling me they were at a Carolyn Myss workshop and she had them all talk to each other and the ground rules were that they could only talk about who they really are inside, not the roles they play, not small talk and the room was silent.  People were at a loss as to what to share with each other.   At first I found that shocking but then realized that I understood…related to what they all experienced.

Why is it so hard to be vulnerable?  To share with others what matters to us.  Aren’t we most vulnerable when we keep it all inside?  When we hang on to all our little secrets?  Worried that others will discover them?  Why don’t we talk about our dreams more?  What we are passionate about?

Have you ever watched someone share something they are passionate about?  I love watching their eyes light up and they seem to get a little taller and a smile creeps across their face.  They become more animated. 

As we begin to share, we begin to realize that we are all the same in so many ways.  Different life experiences perhaps but many of us have the same challenges, the same disappointments, same hopes, same dreams when we look below the surface.   That’s where the connection lies. 

It’s time to share from our hearts.  What do you dream about?  What do you hope for yourself?  For others?  For the world?  What disappoints you?  How have you been disappointed in your life?  What makes your heart sing? 

Share with someone today…create a connection.