Sharing Caring, Connection and Hope

Creating Connection…

Connecting with ourselves and each other…

The most important connection we make is our connection with ourselves. Someone once shared with me, “You are the one person you will spend your whole life with.” Others come in and out of our lives for one reason or another, but we are with ourselves every minute of every day. So doesn’t it make sense that we love and take care of ourselves?

As we do this, we are better able to connect with each other. I have found that creating a meaningful connection can be easier than you may think! Although we live in a culture where grand gestures, luxury, and having lots of followers on social media is all important, small, unrecorded moments can carry the most power. A simple text message, a wave, a friendly “hello,” even a smile across a crowded room can change the course of someone’s entire day.

So, why does it sometimes feel difficult to do this? Is it the fear of bothering others? The worry that our smile or hello won’t be returned? Sometimes we feel too tired, or burnt out; or we assume that anything we have to offer won’t be enough, giving up before we even begin.

Ask yourself: what would you do (even for just one day) if you had no fear–if you KNEW that whoever you talked to would be happy to see you? Even changed for the better? Close your eyes and envision it. Does the thought make you feel tired and overburdened, or are you energized and hopeful? Each of us has our own style of communicating, our own comfort levels. For some, this imagined rejection-free day might be full of friendly smiles, for others, it’s a day-long dance party. That’s the beauty of it: Whatever you want to give, there’s someone out there who wants to receive it.

Try something new! See what happens. You may be surprised as I am at what a difference even the simplest gestures can make.

• Share a smile or a “Hello”
• Send a song to a friend that reminds you of them
• Text someone a book recommendation
• The next time you see someone wearing a cool article of clothing, tell them!
• If you see someone struggling with a small task, ask them if they’d like some help (they usually do!)
• Stop for a pedestrian and give them a wave
• Hold open the door for a stranger
• Buy some fun postcards or stationery that make you feel excited to write to a friend
• Ask your cashier/restaurant server/custodian how their day is going

It costs nothing to help someone feel seen, which is what each of us are seeking. Our feelings of fear, being alone and sometimes anger come from feeling powerless, and unnoticed. Imagine the ripples of hope and healing that can be set into motion if each of us takes one moment out of every day to acknowledge our neighbor. It starts with us! And it is so worth it…

Ways to Share our Caring…

Sharing our caring with acts of kindness…

Small acts of kindness can create the largest ripples of hope and positive change in the world. It is human nature to want to create connection: through friendly words, through art and literature, by teaching and sharing skills, by helping our neighbors in need, through simple acts of caring, gift giving, and more. The act of giving offers us a unique opportunity: to practice kindness and connection in a way that includes everyone whatever their situation.

When I had my dream about the little wooden coin engraved with the words “You Are Never Alone,” I had no idea the far-reaching impact that this little gift-giving would have. Over the years, watching people of all ages and situations receive the coins with gratitude and excitement, I have realized that it wasn’t about the coins necessarily, as they were. What the coins represented was caring and love in tangible form. I began to understand that part of what I was giving was permission. When a child took a coin and eagerly asked for more so they could share them with classmates and family, that child’s excitement was the excitement of someone who had been given permission to give. It is not always obvious to people—especially children—that they are important enough to give a gift. I watched as some coin receivers went on to distribute more coins, while others were inspired to create their own version—a card, a drawing, a flower. Generosity is just as much about the giver as it is the receiver—and that’s not selfish! It’s beautiful. It sparks creativity. It leaves behind a tangible and lasting symbol of intentional caring.

Try it! See what happens when you give someone a small, non-monetary gift. Be creative! Here are some ideas to get started:

• Create your own reminder of caring like your own coin, or a card or a rock—anything!
• Give a friend a copy of a book that you loved
• Buy some cute keychains and hand them out
• Bring some nice pens into work and give them to coworkers
• Like to draw? Draw custom cartoons for the people around you
• Make or buy fun bookmarks and give them away

You can create your own symbol of caring and hope. Some people have paper coins, or a rock…whatever you want to share. If you would like to start your own Caring Coin project, Caring Coins are available for purchase below:

Finding Hope…

Each little act of caring gives the gift of hope…

“You won’t be active unless you hope that your action is going to do some good. So, you need hope to get you going, but then by taking action, you generate more hope. It’s a circular thing.” –Jane Goodall, from The Book of Hope

What is the most essential ingredient in generosity? It’s not money, influence, or an abundance of possessions; it’s hope. Helping others is an expression of hope simply because it relies on the belief that things will get better. And hope is an expression of self-love as well. In a sense, finding and sharing hope is another way of giving ourselves permission to make things better, and not just for others. It’s a chance to say to ourselves, “I deserve this too!”

Self-love is central to the “I Matter, You Matter” message, but it can be an easy concept to overlook. There is the familiar saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” but what does that mean exactly? And how do we find the time to fill ourselves up when there is so much to be done? So much suffering in the world?

I encourage everyone to start simple. Hope is inherent. Hope is human. So, it does not require a complex set of actions. When I visit elementary schools, I like to do a fun exercise with the children. I ask them all to stand and wrap their arms around themselves, then squeeze, giving themselves a big hug. Then, I encourage them to say aloud, “I matter!” Usually this part takes a few tries, as the students need a little warming up, but soon they are all shouting happily: I Matter!

Psychologists tell us that the practice of saying positive affirmations really does benefit our sense of well-being. They might sound like mere words, but our brains are listening and storing that information as truth. So, if you don’t want to shout it from the rooftops, try looking in the mirror and telling yourself the following:

• “I matter!”
• “I am doing good things in the world!”
• “I have so much to offer!”
• “I give myself permission to hope!”

Remember: YOU are the only person you spend your whole life with, others come in and out of our lives for one reason or another but we are always with ourselves…