A Sense of Belonging
Even with strangers?

Mary Lenihan

When is the last time you experienced a sense of Belonging? “If
people didn’t have this coffee shop to come to, I am not sure where
they would go for community,” said a barista during one of our
occasional, but immediately connected, deep, and brief
conversations. It is often at that coffee shop, the local deli, the
doctor’s waiting room, and numerous other places of daily activities
that I experience a profound sense of belonging with those we call
“strangers”.

Standing in line at the neighborhood deli I noticed an older
man a few feet away seeming perfectly content, unlike myself, as I
was in my usual hurried mode and feeling a bit lonely. As I
gathered raspberry cookies and chocolate covered pineapple off the
enticing shelves, I looked at him and said something about all the
goodies I was balancing in my hands and he said, “That-a girl!”
Instantaneously, I felt my father’s presence.” My dad always
said, “That-a girl” cheering me on. “Thanks,” I responded, “I
needed a ‘That-a girl’ today”. Together we got it ~ we felt we
belonged.

The noise, the crowd, the moods and personalities,
none of it interfered
with our genuinely connecting with one another.

I asked him, “Are you in line?” He responded, “Well, I am
trying to get in line but it’s so crowded I’m not sure how to
get through the crowd.” I showed him the way and people
all stepped back to help him get in line. Now, we all
belonged!

It is that simple to experience a sense of belonging.
To move from disconnection, loneliness, or divisiveness to
Awareness of our True Connection.
From feeling a-part to being WHOLE.

This is what Using One of The Pause Practices
Wherever you are,
Whatever you are doing,
and
Whoever you are with
CAN DO!

THE TONE OF YOUR WHOLE DAY CAN SHIFT &
you will lift up someone else as well.

Stop Resisting ~ Pause Instead?

In all honesty, I have to
say, I am surprised how
deep a connection can
happen with strangers.

I find the Presence of a
loving LOVE, and a
recognition that we all
belong to This LOVE, no
matter what ~ in The
Pause.

This is showing
me that I can Pause
even more with family,
friends, coworkers . . .

The Pause is full of
surprises!