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<\/figure>I\u2019m exploring another part of the United States to see if I\u2019m supposed to live there. One of my tests of a city is to get a manicure. This place, around the corner from where I\u2019m staying, lured me in with a great sandwich board that listed low prices that were probably true once. My nail tech, who was chatty and thorough and doing all the get to know you inquiries such as \u201cwhat do you do?\u201d, thoughtfully looked at my question. \u201cPeople just need to talk to each other. Like you wished the woman who just left a good day. And our conversation here.\u201d (She admitted to having been shy as a child\u2014 a sharp contrast to this outgoing woman who managed this salon.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
So, I\u2019ve been thinking about her suggestion and am realizing she was right. It\u2019s so obvious that \u201ctalking to people\u201d really hadn\u2019t been on my list of little things we can do to change the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days ago I set out to finally meet some people here (a MeetUp event) and somehow got on the wrong streetcar. Which meant that I never did connect with the group, despite the fairly generous meeting time. I even went to a local brewery where they were supposed to be gathering after the event. Nope. No one was there by that name or description. Finally, because all the tables were taken, I asked if I could sit down where there was only one person so I could put down my beer and try texting. \u201cAh,\u201d the young woman said. \u201cI\u2019ve been watching you. Sure.\u201d The text was answered to say the MeetUp host wasn\u2019t there, but my new table mate and I talked as I finally got something to eat. I learned she was becoming a physician assistant and she ended up hearing about Spirit Moxie, reading some of my poems, and following Spirit Moxie on Instagram. Little things that were exactly right for the evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>Yes \u201ctalk to people\u201d is related to listening to each other as we\u2019ve written elsewhere, but where and how does a simple question or just a comment change things? \u201cWhere is the recycling place?\u201d \u201cDo you know if that door is unlocked?\u201d \u201cLove your hair.\u201d \u201cWould you pick out three peaches for me?\u201d as a request at the farmer\u2019s market. (FYI – think I got better quality that way too.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
On a bigger scale talking also helps us find truth and clarity. That’s a gentle way of saying that gossip hurts everyone and that we make assumptions in all of our relationships. Our words, our questions, our willingness to acknowledge to ourselves that we can be wrong, inform our own integrity which, I think, is integral to our health and wholeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>Why add \u201cto people\u201d in this little thing? Personally, I probably talk to animals more than people (which is one reason I have a story of a goat following me in New Orleans). Plus, I talk to trees (a poetry book on this will be available soon), and, when frustrated, I argue with inanimate objects such as my computer. People are harder to talk to unless I already know them \u2014 and even then I am often just polite about it with some sort of superficial greeting. However, when I do really talk (and listen), magic happens.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What happens when you don\u2019t<\/em> talk to others? What did you really, really want that you didn\u2019t receive simply because you didn\u2019t ask? Is there a place within your own integrity that says, \u201cIf only I\u2019d said something\u201d about a situation? I\u2019m mixed on some of the last piece because I\u2019ve sometimes said something, and it was the wrong something. But I know we have to at least acknowledge these times to ourselves.When did you stay unclear about a situation because of not talking? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Exploring actually talking (remember I know almost no one where I am right now) has changed the way I look at my interactions and really has made my life easier. It\u2019s presented a possible new place to live, got the TV where I\u2019m staying to work, and made shopping more straightforward. It\u2019s also allowed a bartender to share his love of wine, let someone else rhapsodize on their<\/em> love of trees, and provoked an exchange about current writing projects. All in the past few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So watch. Listen. Talk. Obvious or not, see how what you say changes how the world shows up for you and your place in it, and how those words seem to affect those around you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n _________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n All photos by Spirit Moxie<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new pedicure \u201cOh, I\u2019m a writer. How would you answer the question, \u2018what little thing would make a difference if everyone did it?\u2019\u201d I\u2019m exploring another part of the United States to see if I\u2019m supposed to live there. One of my … Continue reading
Peaches
Trees and a dog<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"