Great to Connect and Smell the Pickles

Recently I sent out an e-mail blast with a video I think expresses the essence of attention - I've received it several times and even put it on my Facebook spot. I've gotten comments from "Fabulous, I' have tears," to lots of  "Thank you's" to "who are you promoting and why?"...and so the beat goes on...whenever one shows up or speaks up, someone out there doesn't like it. I've heard this one forever.

The really wonderful part of all of all this is that I've heard back from so many with whom I've been out of touch, since I moved to New York. I am thrilled. There's such a feeling of joy when I reconnect with old pals. I even heard from  Europe and New Zealand.

So after an energetic Friday in my office, on Sunday, I subwayed down to the lower East side of Manhattan for a professional tour of the area with an Alumni Group of U of M. Somehow it was sponsored by the Business School, so I was the only one there from LS&A. Very fun to share this with all ages, some graduates of the B school and some in-going graduate students. We all share a joyousness about our years in Ann Arbor no matter our ages. Some continue to return for the Football Games; others go back for reunions, which I've done; I  luckily discovered some years ago where the Michigan Band practiced for a trip to The Rose Bowl, and I went in Pasadena and watched them for hours --- totally thrilling and exhilarating.

Now, about those pickles. We were on the street listening to our tour leader who'd just handed out plantains to give us a taste of the area, when she started to talk about our next stop, the Pickle Factory.  During the great Jewish immigration in the early 20th century, the pickle business was huge with some 70 factories thricing. Today there is only one and it's owned and operated by a group of Chinese. There were lots of people already in line and the smells coming forth were music to my nose. I had to go in, where there were about 20  vats with everything you could imagine being pickled. Even pineapple. Our guide had bought us sour pickles, which were delicious, but I wish I'd had a chance to taste the dills. I'll  just have to go back.

This was certainly another connection for me. Those smells came from my childhood, even though I grew up in Detroit, which did not have pickle factories; fortunately we had deli's.

In two hours we went historically from the Jewish part of the area and the Italian/Irish part to today, where the Chinese have settled. It was a glorious day and the most-used park in New York was packed full of Chinese families connecting, chatting, using the playground equipment, walking babies; we could easily have thought we were some place in China.

What a week-end...

An Intense Week Followed by Re-Entry at Home!

I had a fabulous opportunity last week to participate in a Speakers' Intensive given by Teri Hawkins at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon. There were eight of us, all ages, from all over. I got there before my two other housemates and unpacked while I was watching the Oscars. Arriving around 5pm from the airport, I was immediately awed by the crisp, clear air, which felt so good.

The week started at 9am on Monday. The first exercise had to do with forgiveness! Over and over Teri told us that it's vital to spend time daily before retiring forgiving ourselves. That is another way of paying attention and taking the time to give ourselves what we need to heal some of our guilts and jettison some of our baggage.

And that was only the very beginning. Every day was packed with more exercises, more self-revelations, more connections. It was like an adult summer camp of the best order for me. I loved it all. I loved being with a group who bonded together over meals and participating with each other. We told our stories and learned to tell more stories.We grew inside, we grew in relating to our fellow attendees, we grew to be better speakers. I was outed about my age and my quirkiness...they laughted at me and declared me to be one very funny lady - far funnier that I am conscious of...I am getting it, finally.

I am allowing myself time now for reflection, to reorganize my home and my thoughts, before I undertake a new speaking direction.

While the snow was piling up in New York, I was expressing my gratitude for living in warm, sunny California and for giving myself that wonderful week of learning, of being, of growing...now to create a viable, meaningful, financially rewarding journey.