Sometimes someone has heard of you before you meet them. It happens to me a lot here – I kind of stand out with my accent.
Sometimes people have read my newspaper column, heard me speak, followed me on twitter, are friends with me on facebook or heard about me through a friend. They already have a view of who I am and what I’ll be like. Last night and this afternoon it must have happened at least ten times. I was introduced to someone, or they came over because they recognized me. It’s always interesting to meet people and I’m always fascinated by their reactions.
It makes me smile to know that I’m connecting with people even when I don’t know it. Sometimes working for yourself gets lonely, I sit in my office wondering if anyone ever reads this stuff. Sometimes you are reminded that they do. I go out to deliberately talk to strangers, and instead they deliberately talked to me.
Thank you to everyone I met at the Mardi Gras Ball, at the astro-naughty party (don’t ask), at the diner at 3am, and at Grinder this afternoon. Your reactions made me smile.
Talking to strangers you learn a lot, some stuff about them, but mostly stuff about yourself. If everyone you meet is a reflection of you in some way then I’m happy with where and who I am today.
Today’s stranger encounter starts with a smile.. and leads to some great advice… No descriptions today.
Outside Walmart, I needed milk for tea (you don’t want an English woman to not be able to have tea), I smiled at a stranger who was loading their car with groceries. The conversation went (something) like this..
Stranger: You don’t want to go in there, it’s a crazyhouse, they are all crazy
Me: Really, is it bad?
Stranger: It’s crazy, you’d think these people had never had a cold spell before, they think they are going to be trapped in their houses for a week. Crazy.
Me: I never shop here normally, I just needed milk.
Stranger: Oh, Dear, don’t go in, don’t do it, they just knocked an old man onto his knees, it’s crazy in there. Are you English ?
Day two of deliberately talking to strangers and it seems like the universe has already worked it all out. It seems to be sending me people that start conversations. I’m still struggling with writing about people online when they don’t know I’m doing it, but I would have no idea how to go about asking for permission.
Today I was approached by a 20something young lady, slight in stature with a 5 month baby bump protruding cutely from her cargo pants. She asked if I would open her medication for her, she was taking pills for carpal tunnel and couldn’t get the lid of. Great design huh!
She shared that she was hard of hearing, all the time smiling and conveying this sweet, positive energy that kept me listening. Her sister is a dwarf, her and her twin brother were born 4 months early and are both hard of hearing. She shared tales of her attending little people conferences, and her sister attending meetings for the deaf. Sometimes a complete stranger can put your life into perspective.
Barely five feet tall but with an effervescence and an openness that is rare to find. She obviously loves to communicate. Today though it’s more about what she didn’t say, rather than all the stuff she shared. The optimism and complete transparency from which she operates were refreshing. I know her unborn baby’s name, and her hopes and dreams for him.
When we meet new people, our feelings are rarely to do with them, but how we see ourselves reflected in them. This was like an open box showing me how guarded I am, with friends and strangers. It’s not a quality I like in myself. I tell myself I like to listen but really I only share surface stuff, and not the stuff that really matters. I don’t know her name, but today I am going to be a little more trusting, a little more ready to risk opening up. Thank you sweet stranger.
I was challenged by Reed to “Talk to a stranger everyday for 45 days and create a blog post about them” and today I started. I have put off starting this one because once I do the first one I’m committed. To go out and purposely talk to a stranger seems fairly strange but I guess the whole point of these challenges is that I am out of my comfort zone.
I have decided not to use names in these posts – they are just my view of a moment in time, a conversation shared:
Conversations with Strangers 1/45
“All I know about him is he did crazy stuff on stage and then killed himself,” I involuntarily turned towards the conversation, how could I not?
They smiled as they realized what I’d overheard “Nirvana?” I replied to the question they didn’t ask. That led to a conversation about ‘real’ music, woodstock, and London. Both guys played, one the guitar, the other the drums and talked about getting lost in the moment. They showed me the faces they made while ‘rocking out’. I wish I’d had a camera. We talked about how the myth that a group becomes can overshadow the things they really did. The guy with the darkest hair was talking about how Kurt Cobain helped lots of other groups get recording deals, and his friend (I imagined they had been friends since high school but had lost touch for 12 years) replied with the quote that started this whole thing.
So far today I have received two new challenges, both of which must be started as soon as possible.
Jeff Herring has challenged me to complete the 100 articles in 100 days challenge. He is the guy who puts the ART in Article Writing.. and the “icle” too. He taught me so much about how to get business through article writing that there was no way to turn this one down. Join in here http://FromtheDeskofJeffHerring.com
I have also just be challenged by Sonia to read a book every week.. and she writes, “If you can read a few extra I challenge you to read 45 books”.. 45 seems to be a theme so I’m going to try for that one. I will post reviews each week on what I’ve read over on the blog at http://thatspeaker.com/blog
If anyone else has any challenge suggestions I am now at 35.. so I need 10 more (and maybe a couple spare in case I don’t succeed at some).. I am going to spend some time later making a schedule to fit in everything I need to do. The most challenging thing so far has been to fit in the challenges and still have time to do the other stuff I have to do like make money, clean house, spend time with family and friends etc.. This is going to have to be a very organized year.
If you want to join me on any challenge, you are more than welcome.
Here’s to a year where all the challenges are good!
The blood drive was a HUGE success, way better than I aimed for (but of course, I secretly hoped it would be). My target was to get 45 people to donate and when we checked the sign-up list at the end of the drive, we had 104
104 – one hundred and four.
I now can officially say that I have the best friends and supporters in the entire world. Hundreds of people were involved in making this a success – a group larger than the army of some small countries. Without people donating time, talents, gifts, and of course blood, this would never have happened. Without my friends encouraging me when I doubted myself it wouldn’t have been a huge success!
Please look at the post before this and click on some of the names of our sponsors – they helped make the event over-the-top wonderful. This challenge belongs to all of us, and we saved lives!
We have had many inquiries about the shirts – we may, if enough people are interested, print up some more (without the print on the back) and sell them.. Please leave me a comment if you are interested and we’ll make it happen.
I hate not to mention everyone, but there are some people I cannot go without mentioning again:
Jolie’s bistro – the food was amazing, and the company of Mudge was a treat. You are my favorite restaurant in Lafayette (and No, I’m not paid to say that).
Blake Lagneaux – he designed the t-shirts and the posters. This man oozes talent, and is one of the nicest, funniest people you will ever meet.
Hulco Printers – they printed and donated the shirts and have always helped me in any way I have asked for. They are a second generation local company and they rock. (disclaimer – my husband works there)
Kleinpeter Dairy – one of the most forward thinking, family-run companies in the country. They donated ice-cream and their heart logo is appropriate in everything they do.
Lilypad Gourmet Cupcakes – best cupcakes ever. That simple.
It’s hard not to turn them into a list of everyone again… please see previous post for clickable logos. For those who gave blood, please know you are my heroes. For those who showed up and hung out – you have no idea how much you did that day. The atmosphere at the blood drive was one of fun and Christmas. Many people told me how cool all my friends were! For those who donated prizes, you are the unseen heroes of this day, I will always remember, and always be thankful.
So today, please all share in the great number we acheived – one hundred a four!
So far the response to my blood drive has been amazing.
Of course the people giving blood are the real heroes here. They save lives. It doesn’t get much better than that! We wanted a blood drive that celebrated that and thanked them in a big way. Many of these people will show up three times a year and very quietly donate a piece of themselves to save another, they do it without any fanfare. This blood drive will be different:
Every donor will receive:
A T-shirt designed by Blake Lagneaux – Blake also designed the posters – he’s a very creative, young designer, based right here in Lafayette. The t-shirts are great quality and were donated and printed by Hulco Printers (Quality Work every time)
A pint of ice-cream donated by Kleinpeter Dairy, local goodness at it’s best. Since I saw how well their cows are treated I have switched exclusively to their milk!
Food by Jolie’s bistro – My favorite restaurant in town. If you haven’t tried it yet it’s worth giving blood just to taste it! It’s heaven on a plate.
Lilypad Gourmet Cupcakes by a brand new company in town (they haven’t even opened yet). I have tasted these cupcakes and they are the best ever (and believe me, i’ve tried a lot of cupcakes)
(and some other goodies that I’m keeping secret)
Everyone who signs up online in advance will get a copy of my first book, Notes on Shining. It’s a book about Presentation Skills for people who would never read a book about Presentation Skills (will make a great gift)
Every now and then I like to stop and update, review and plan.
This week is all about the blood drive.. it’s become a huge thing. I hope we get at least 30 people there. I know the challenge is 45, and it would be incredible if we got anywhere near that. I’m going to put together a list of all the places that have donated first thing in the morning – it’s quite a list. I will publish on this blog so everyone can see I’m not doing this alone.
I have taken out two of the challenges that just couldn’t be completed (out of my control). Number 18 was originally to dress up as a Junior Achievement Pyramid, but they didn’t have the costume ready for the event, number 32 was to be an Elf at the mall, but the ‘elf insurance’ was a problem. I have had two new challenges come in this week and so I have put those in place.
I still only have 33 challenges so am open for more, but I have till September 2010 to complete them.
The two new challenges are: to write a blog post every day for 45 days, and to make a self portrait. I am happy to attempt both of those. The discipline of writing a blog post every day for the next 45 days will be good for me, I will attempt to do it on both blogs, here and on thatspeaker.com – we’ll see if I make it. It will certainly help me develop new habits. The self portrait sounds interesting. At the moment I have no idea what I will do but I’m sure I will have fun doing it.
The weight loss is slow but I’m determined to get right back on it and make it happen a bit quicker. Tomorrow I’m going to start working out again, I stopped due to a knee injury and abject laziness.. but I have 13 miles to run at somepoint.
I have started some of the others (as you can see by the blue highlighting) and am plodding through them slowly! I need to get back into gear on some things. I guess I know what my New Year’s Resolutions are this year!
I have some great things coming up. After Christmas I will share my fund-raising idea to send a wonderful child to Camp Bon Couer – it’s gonna be fun (and slightly different)
I would like to thank everyone who has been involved, by challenging me, by helping me with a challenge, by reading this, by commenting and by sharing on twitter, facebook and other blogs. I love to know you are out there. If you have never commented I would love to hear from you and know you are out there.
Thanks for reading, and most of all, thanks for holding me accountable.
1. Lose 45lbs
2. Visit a gospel church
3. A project to help New Orleans (and coffee at Cafe Du Monde with Megan) (from Megan)
4. A comprehensive business plan (from Craig)
5. A list of 45 healthy meals to help the weight loss (from Brian)
6. A round-off flip flop/round off back handspring (from Lisa Marie)
7. Ride an Andalusian Stallion (from Maritza)
8. Run a half-marathon (from Todd)
9. Talk to a stranger everyday for 45 days and create a blog post about them (from Reed)
10. Build the BE YOU brand for Lafayette (from Anne)
11. Crazy random acts of kindness (from Abi)
12. Do something you enjoyed doing when you were 4 or 5 (from Abi)
13. Come up with 45 ideas for passive income -and do one (from Susanne)
14. Geocache (geocaching.com) (from Lisa Marie)
15. Find 45 people who have touched your life in a positive way and let them know that they have done so (from Blake)
16. Meditate for 45 mins, 3 times a week (from Blake)
17. Create a Joint Venture with me that is lots of fun, and maybe even money (from Chris)
18. Write a blog post everyday for 45 days (from Carole)
19. Create 45 pieces of art to go with the 45 challenges and have an exhibition (from Kylie)
20. Milk a Cow
21. Paint a piece of pottery for a charity event (from Blake)
22. Create my financial goals (from Flo)
23. Host a blood drive with 45 people giving blood (and maybe saving 45 lives) (from Mitzi)
24. Attend a Rugby Match (UL) (from JoAnne)
25. Watch only movies recommended by movieguide- a guide to family friendly movies, for 2 months. (from Vicky)
26. Write 45 Haikus that reflect the wisdom you've gained in your life (and or silly stuff that makes you giggle) (from Katie)
27. Be a cue card girl for a public service announcement by the AcA. (from Jesse)
28. Spend a day in a wheelchair and complete the tasks I set you. (from Liam)
29. Raise the funds ($1,500) to send a child to camp bon couer this summer - and attend camp for a day! (from Susannah)
30. Sew your own outfit and wear it in public (from Loretta)
31. Let me write a feature about you and the challenges for my journalism class (from Stacey)
32. Make a self-portrait in whatever you think represents you best (from Tessie)
33. Eat the world's hottest pepper (from Tina, aka Pepperfire)
34. Complete the 100 articles in 100 days challenge here from Jeff
35. Read a book a week (or 45 books) from Sonia
36. Listen to any show on blogtalkradio and do a post about it tell how you liked the show. (from Lorrie)
I throughly and enthusiastically recommend:
Some of these are affiliate links. Some are just people I recommend. Believe me, I will always get an affiliate link if i can but I have to use and approve of the product/service myself.
