Envisioning Possibilities
Relationships
At the location on the Bagua board, relationships are personal, intimate, and passionate, my vision board I had a hole.
My 52-year-long relationship with a marvelous man died when he did. I discovered that having a husband who was also my best friend did not leave a space for many others and years of walking with Alzheimer’s scared many of our old friends away. What was there to talk about with a friend who no longer recognized you, let alone talk about a mutual topic? My world became smaller, limited to a great daughter and a mentally missing husband.
I needed to find friends, and still do. Here is a suggested list from AI on how to turn strangers into friends. It’s a good one. I am grateful.
Turning strangers into friends is like crafting a masterpiece, requiring patience, creativity, and genuine care. Here are some tried-and-true methods:
Initiate Conversation:
Break the ice with a warm smile and a friendly greeting. A simple “hello” can open the door to a meaningful connection.
Find Common Ground:
Look for shared interests, experiences, or even a mutual location. Bonding over something familiar creates an instant sense of camaraderie.
Listen Actively
Show genuine interest in the other person’s story. Listen attentively, ask follow-up questions, and validate their experiences.
Offer Help or Support
Extend a helping hand or offer support when needed. Kindness strengthens bonds and demonstrates your willingness to be a reliable friend.
Be Authentic
Be true to yourself and let your personality shine. Authenticity is magnetic and attracts like-minded souls.
Be Patient
Building meaningful connections takes time. Be patient and allow the friendship to unfold naturally.
From Fearful to Fearless:
Every confident speaker once shook in their shoes.
How to Answer “Tricky” Questions
When you stay calm, clarify with repetition, and bridge back to your core ideas, you guide the dialogue rather than chase it. The result? You come across as thoughtful, credible, and persuasive exactly the qualities clients and colleagues remember.
Choice
Every moment is a choice to begin again ….unknown. Sometimes we wallow in the moment, sometimes we stand back and not make a choice. It is much easier to stand back and not make a choice or not make a change. By not choosing we wallow, we indulge ourselves in the way...
Friend
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ― Elbert Hubbard There are a few people in our life who know everything. We are grateful for the few. We think of our foibles and of our faults as imperfections that chase people away. In some cases,...
Courage
Courage “Happiness is not found in things you possess, but in what you have the courage to release.” Nathaniel Hawthorne What needs to be released, the piano, the sewing machine or other “stuff”. Is it courage to release your fondest possessions? Courage today is to...
STARS
"Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious." Stephen Hawking Jerry is so curious he took a second degree in Astro Physics at 54. He loves it! There is nothing quite...
Fear
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. W. Clement Stone Fear has been the topic of conversation today – as I’ve discussed shared spaces with potential clients. Having a private office space to use for a month, a week or a day seems to rattle some small...
Not By Bread Alone
"Life is either a grand adventure or nothing at all." Helen Keller I can’t imagine what it must have been like for her to be blind and deaf. We saw a theatre production a few years back titled, “Not by Bread Alone”. It was written and directed by Adina Tal...
These are promising ideas. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have a loved one and Alzheimer’s. Yet I agree — there is always someone we are yet to meet!