Thinking Out Loud
Connections

March 29, 2015
By: Diane Szczepanski

Life wants you to connect deeply with the hearts of other people, struggle together and rejoice together.
Bryant McGill

"Isn't it funny how we see each other at least once a month and we didn't realize the struggle the other is going through?"....Said recently to me by business friend and peer.

She had shared a rather personal, but victorious journey she has been taking and I had reached out to congratulate her on courage she has shown. I took a moment to let her know my kudos came from the empathy of having been there, done that.

Neither of us realized the other's trials.

How often is that the case in life? We may be quick to congratulate, but are we as quick to inquire about our fellow man?

I realized that perhaps, I am not.

We get caught up in the chaos of our own lives.

Raising kids, trying to pay our ever mounting bills, keep the car running, the grass cut, the furnace working. There is an ever present series of figurative fires to put out in our lives. Some days, it takes all we can do to wage those daily battles and it is easy to be consumed by our own personal wars.

But, we all have them.

We all have a path and usually a cross to bear.

It's what makes us similar and yet unique.

And tough.

This week was a gentle reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. We all face something.

Extending an ear, a hand or a word of encouragement to our fellow man is a beautiful thing. It confirms our shared human experience.

And that's a great thing to rejoice.