Make the "time".

From what I've learned one of the most important things we will do in our life is to form relationships with others. Each and every person we come into contact with in our life is a chance to form a relationship, whether it be as brief as a 10 second smile or as long as a 40 year friendship does not matter. What matters is we put ourselves out there and connect in a loving, caring, respectful, trusting manner and that shows an interest in someone else as a living breathing being that deserves recognition of some kind.

We sometimes get so busy in our worlds we forgot to stop and connect with those around us. We may think we don't have enough time to reach out or we may be too preoccupied with our own selves to reach out, but it only takes a few seconds to share a smile. A few minutes to send an email saying, "thinking of you". It takes more time to purchase a card and send it and even more time to make a card and send it. Of course, we don't always have time to make phone calls or write long detailed filled messages to people, but think of the times a brief line at just the right time or a smile from a stranger changed your entire outlook on the day.

Imagine the importance your smile may have to a complete stranger. What comes to my mind is a time when I was going to attend a retreat. I am normally very shy and uncomfortable in new situations and with being among people I have never met in person. As I walked into the room of strangers, late no less, I was greeted by one women with a huge friendly smile of welcome. Immediately I relaxed and knew I would be OK. Her one smile changed my outlook and whole experience. That woman and her smile remain etched in my heart and mind and every time I am in a group experience or out in public. I think of how much that one gesture meant to me and I pass that gesture forward by trying to give a smile to everyone that I meet.

Of course, I am human and I have good days and bad days and sometimes I am too hurried to acknowledge those around me, even those I love the most. But, now I am aware enough to know how important relationships are, so I try to pay attention and make the time to reach out as often as possible to everyone I meet. I also take the time and make more of an effort to tend to and nourish the very close relationships that I have so that those who are special to me, know they are truly special not just to me, but to the world. It really doesn't take that long and nothing in this world will have a more lasting effect or impact on the world than the relationships I've formed.