degrees of separation

last week i packed up my stuff and once again made the trek to the west coast to get a family-fix in seattle. i put my headphones in so i could drown out grandpa eating trail mix for three hours next to me and fall asleep to the hum-drum of an airplane movie. whenever i try to fall asleep to a movie (usually of the nicholas sparks variety), it doesn't happen. i get sucked in and actually pay attention to a movie i would have never purposely watched.

this time the lucky culprit was chasing mavericks. shut up. there was one scene that made me go, "i've been there!" and then i was hit with this revy (as my mom likes to call a "revelation") that we all kind of long for times when we can say that. i know i like being able to say it... especially when people tell me where they're from because, chances are, i've lived there too (i kid, i kid - no but really). it happens when people talk about great restaurants or cool places to go...

it's all fine until the hipster beast that lies lurking within every one of us starts to scratch its claws and we want to be the "originals". the pioneers of cool restaurants, bands, stores, blogs, activities, people... the list could go on forever. i know people like this. i am like this sometimes. i get protective over my ideas. i hate it about myself. i hate it about the people i know.

here's what i do love: channeling it for good. it's nice to live a life rich with experience. enough to be able to listen, really listen, to someone telling you their story and find connection. to feel roots connecting somewhere. everything is connected, we just have to figure out how to be patient enough to listen for the hows and whys. "me too" are some of the most powerful, healing words. they can also be the most hurtful, insensitive words too. but you wouldn't know when or how to use them until you learn to listen.

let people have good ideas. let people hurt. let people tell you about their good & bad ideas, and let people tell you about their pains, joys, achievements, and failures. navigate your desires to connect and discern (there's a word that isn't practiced enough) when to say what. and remember...

everything is connected. even if it's not your idea and even when you haven't been there.

____

like it? you know... kelly did it.