Code. Design. Explore.

Smiles get returned way more than borrowed clothes, so don’t hold back the amount you give out.

At some point in our childhood, a curious intrigue became misconstrued for a threatening stare. I’m not sure when this happened, but so many of us walk around somewhat disconnected from the rest.  Whether we are in a rush or choose not to connect with passerbys because it’s not “what’s done,” it leaves many of us unaware of the isolation we’ve caused ourselves.  So the next time you are walking down a street, try to make some eye contact.  And when you are connected flash a quick smile.  I guarantee it to brighten up your day.

I decided I’m going to start a series of reflections.  They might happen each week or each month.  I haven’t figured that out yet.  Some will be short, others long.  They will all be from the heart.

–

I was walking home from the gym today listening to Snatam Kaur.  I stopped to gaze at the way these two layers of clouds were passing over me.  The upper layer was pinkish in color, using the reflection of the sun’s rays to illuminate the clouds.  They moved rather slowly.  The second layer was thousands of feet lower and grayish in color.  They carried a lot of weight and were moving fast.  This was beautiful to watch.  I gazed for about 10 minutes and from time to time would notice passerbys trying to figure out what had my attention so focused.

As I continued home I came to a mother and her child.  She embodied the “dance as if no one is watching” mantra.  She was making funny faces into the cove of the stroller.  It turns out the baby was making those faces back.

It hit me then.

There is so much joy in other peoples’ joy.

So then I wondered… what would the world be like if we all felt this way?

much love

The Back story

Back in September I experienced Burning Man for the first time.  For those unfamiliar, I think Jay Michaelson describes it best, saying:

“It’s a temporary city of 50,000 people, devoted to radical self-expression. So you’ll find anything you’d find in a regular city — art museums, dance clubs, yoga studios — only in the middle of the desert, with no money, and with more creativity than you’ve ever seen.”

I don’t think I’d be able to live in the desert permanently.  In fact, most life can’t survive without major adaptations over several generations, and the truth is that I won’t be around long enough.  It does, however, give me hope for a different kind of society.  A society based on compassion over greed.  One based on giving more than you receive.

Many people in our society want more than they need.  For every mantra of, “Money can’t buy happiness,” there are five more telling us, “Just one more promotion.”  Do you think you’ll be content once you make partner? Read the rest of this entry »