About a third of the way through a first meeting recently, my host sat back, seeming to share in my enthusiasm, smiled, and asked: Now, what can I do for you? There was a definite emphasis on the I and the you. The question came so unexpectedly and sounded so genuine that I was completely taken aback. What can I do for you?
He had done “it” for me by the very sincerity of the question, by listening to my impassioned recounting of the GV Magazine journey and all the amazing people we’ve met along the way and their stories. I could think of nothing in particular that he could do for me at the time, but I was so inspired by the very sincerity of the question as an invitation to brainstorm collaborative possibilities that I now find myself more and more asking the same question of others: What can I do for you? I may not be able to do whatever it is exactly, but then again, maybe I can. Either way, what a brilliant starting point for exploring new and exciting possibilities in our own community.
Give the gift of listening, of collaboration, of friendship this year. With all the conveniences of zippy communiqués and dashing to the mall for that gotta-find-something-quick obligatory gift, nothing has yet come close to the gift of time and attention, a friendly ear, respectful acknowledgment. It costs nothing yet gives more than any toy or gizmo ever could. And in such a busy world, almost everyone understands how precious time is — the one gift that is truly nonreturnable, nonrefundable, nontransferable. At least not yet anyway.
--Krystyn Hartman
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment