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June 10 – Human Connections

June 10, 2019 by Kali 5 Comments

by Ariela Zucker

I stir my morning coffee and while the milk swirls and changes the color from dark brown to tan I reflect on a sentence that I read on the front page of Yahoo.

“Human connections are important. Try to encompass at least ten of them every day.”

I wonder if I can accomplish this challenge without leaving my home on this dreary rainy day.
1.  The first thing I do is look at my cellphone: David from 7 cups is looking for me.
2.  I log into the site that connects volunteer listeners and members who need a captive listening ear. David and I have a short conversation about his aspirations to take on the world. He says he likes to talk to me, and this time he ends the conversation by himself. I joke about "David and Goliath;" he gets it and sends a smiley.
3.  I check my online writing group, no one responded to my last post, so I move on.
4.  I send the daily Hebrew word to Sara. Later she will send me a letter composed of these words. Today’s word: The eye of the storm. She texts me a thumbs-up.
5.  An email from Beth. She just found in her DNA test that we are third cousins twice removed and is overcome with excitement. I suggest a few possible surnames for her to check. "None fits," she writes back, adding an icon of a sad face.
6.  An unknown caller from Honolulu. A formal, somewhat scary male voice announces that I should call back in the next 10 minutes; otherwise, the police will intervene. I know it is a prank call, but for a brief moment, it stops my breathing, what if it is true?
Fifty-five minutes passed, and I scored six interactions, I am pleased and reward myself with another cup of coffee and a donut.
7. In my Facebook, I find two birthday announcements and a picture from two years ago of my dog the day we got him. I send birthday wishes and marvel at how small he was only a short time ago.
8.  I sit down to write a long-delayed letter to my pen pal in Scotland. We’ve been corresponding for over twenty years. We’re doing it in the good old-fashioned way; paper, envelope, stamp then a long wait.
9.  My daughter calls to ask for a recipe. I pull out my cookbook that is held together with will power and sticky fingers and read the ingredients to her. This is an old recipe my mother used to make. I am happy to pass it on and keep the generational food connection alive.
10. Outside on my bird-feeder, yellow Goldfinch shares the grains with a small red squirrel. Above them, on a bent branch, a blazing red Cardinal performs its warning metallic chip. Patches of bright colors against the gray backdrop. I snap a quick picture. Later I will post it on Facebook.

Ariela Zucker was born in Israel. She and her husband left sixteen years ago and now reside in Ellsworth Maine where they run a Mom and Pop motel. This post originally appeared on her blog at Paper Dragon.

Kalí Rourke is a full-time philanthropist and volunteer in the Austin, Texas area and has lent her writing, public speaking, and social media skills to many local nonprofits, including Story Circle Network. She is a wife, mom, "Gigi" to her awesome grandkids, a professional singer, and an advocate for mentoring in all of its forms. 

Filed Under: Ariela Zucker Tagged With: Communication, inspiration, Reflection, Relationships

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patricia Roop Hollinger says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:58 am

    I am curious how you connected to be a “volunteer listener.” I am a retired Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and am interested in using my skills via this method. This morning I watched birds making a nest in the ferns that I have on my balcony. When I lived in the woods my kitchen window afforded me many hours of bird watching and bird feeding.

    Reply
  2. arielazucker says

    June 10, 2019 at 11:13 am

    Hi Patricia,
    Just log into their site:
    https://www.7cups.com
    They have 2 options; one is to be a volunteer listener which is what I do. The second is for professionals who get paid but I don’t know anything about it.
    I’ve been a volunteer since 2017 and most of the time I like it.
    If you have more questions to me you can write to my email;
    ldplus4u@yahoo.com
    Ariela

    Reply
  3. sara etgen-baker says

    June 10, 2019 at 3:29 pm

    thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

    Reply
  4. V.J. Knutson says

    June 10, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    Enjoyed this post Ariela – never really think about how many connections we make in a day – now you have me thinking.

    Reply
  5. arielazucker says

    June 12, 2019 at 6:08 am

    I do that every once in a while, stop to value all the people I speak to during a day and feel fortunate.

    Reply

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