An Unexpected Encounter
While holidaying in Sydney, an unexpected encounter brought so much joy that it has inspired a complete change in focus for the Expansive Happiness® website.
On my travels back to the accommodation, I happened to pass this deligtful lady who reminded me very much of my own mother. I couldn’t help but to stop and share this with her and start a conversation. She was happy to oblige me walking with her as we chatted, although she did request if I minded walking a little more slowly.
She had lived for a long time there in Sydney and had made the walk to the church up the road many times over the years. When she was a small child, she had walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge when it was first opened.
I shared about how different living in the country was to all the noise and activity of a much larger city. As we were talking about everyone being in such a rush, a group of people sprinted by with one turning around to apologise for brushing her shoulder. It highlighted the very thing we were talking about.
It had been years since I had visited Sydney and so much of it had changed. My newfound friend expressed her views and sadness at the older buildings in need of preservation and that we are too busy “ripping things out” to experience the joy they might bring.
Our heartwarming conversation had been so engaging that when things started to look unfamiliar, I had to stop and head back the other way.
We wished each other well and said how much we had enjoyed our meeting. She smiled at me and said, "Now don't fall over but I'm 96 . . . keep moving and take the time to notice the beauty in things."
I love sharing this story because it shows the wonder of human connection when we reach out to someone in this way. We will probably never see one another again but her words are forever in my heart and I experienced such joy from our conversation that it raised my own frequency for the rest of the day.
It is because of this encounter that I afforded myself the kindness and grace of forgetting about my own troubles and frustrations. I’m sure the good mood I was in also made others feel good as well. Even if only fleeting, it is within these moments that we can do wonders for the environmental frequency around us by being more receptive to the happiness of heartfelt human connection.
Another important aspect of this experience was why I came to be right there in that very place and space in time. I had finally worked up the courage and had enough knowledge of what was needed for my own self-care that I actually got on a plane and did something I’d wanted to do for a very long time, visit Sydney for VIVID which incidentally had the theme of Humanity.
Airports are not exactly the ideal space to be in for environmentally sensitive people but I was determined that this wasn’t going to hinder my adventure. I made the choice to give myself every opportunity to experience the fulfilment of venturing somewhere new and engaging in something different. It is through these experiences that we learn and grow as human beings. We aren’t meant to stay as static creatures when we have the ability to accomplish so much more.
I will be forever grateful for taking the time to talk with this wonderful lady and for all that has evolved from our inspiring conversation.
23rd June 2024, Andrea Weber, Expansive Happiness®
Top image by Sean Bernstein, Unsplash. Thank you for sharing your creativity.