Finding the Connections

As someone who  plays the New York Times words games daily,  I was delighted with yesterday's Connections game.  I immediately got the purple level -  the connection between Lover,  Magician,  Fool and Tower leaping to my eye.   

Tarot cards!   

Funny how easy it  is to see connections when you have some knowledge of the area... (the sports ones always trip me up! )

Weak Ties

I read an article in the New York Times about how becoming a regular at a café can help lessen a sense of isolation.  When I first moved to New York,  I knew my husband, who was working 60-80 hours a week,  and my son, who was 4 years old.  It was just after 9/11 and the streets of Tribeca were relatively empty at the time.  I tramped all over them with my 4 year old in tow,  getting to know the faces that I passed regularly.  One day I walked by a restaurant I hadn't ever been to,  and the workers there wanted to know where my son was,  they were used to seeing the two of us together.  A small interaction like that can make you feel so happy,  so much more connected.   

I became very active in my son's school and was often speaking to large groups of parents,  so when I walked the streets of Tribeca people often smiled or stopped for a quick chat.  It made one of the busiest cities in the world feel like a warm and friendly village to me,  and that definitely helped! 

Though these connections are not strong or essential,  so sociologists call them 'weak ties', they are still very important.  When the guy at the counter knows your order,  when the florist smiles at you and says you always love the gardenias,  when the small conversations anchor you,  let them!  And notice the small interactions people have with you,  so you can be part of their web too.  

Cranky Day

Disconnected,  by Suhair Sibai

I had a cranky day last week.  I had a person desperate for a time slot that was already booked, so I texted to double check that the original person wanted it and they did.  I hate disappointing people, but sometimes there is nothing you can do.  Then I texted the original person that I had arrived at the café and was waiting, and they replied ok, and then they didn’t come.   Frankly I was annoyed, I could have seen someone else, and what is it with double confirming and not showing?  

So I was walking through my neighborhood, huffing and puffing under my breath.  Then a woman stops me and says, “Liat, do you remember me,” which is a difficult situation for me; I read for so many people and I don’t always recognize them out of context.  But as I looked at her, the details of her reading came back to me, “You work with chocolate,” I said and she smiled. And then she said, “I can’t afford to come right now, but I think of you and your readings all the time.” 

And there it was… I was really touched and my grumpiness just evaporated

 

Synchronicities

Ruth Schembri,  Synchronicity

The cards are all about synchronicities, seeing the patterns and energies that are going on in your life. But I find odd synchronicity between the readings as well as within them.  In the past two days I saw a Lisa,  Elizabeth and a Liz.  Well, it’s a common name, but I find that names often clump together.  I saw two Heidis in the same day. Last week I got confused when a woman kept emailing the same question but then realized I was dealing with three different Erin’s making inquiries.

Barbara Takenaga,  Abstracts

And then the readings go in themes too.   I rarely hear about unplanned pregnancies and suddenly get 3 in a week.   Even jobs come in patterns, for a while there it seemed like everyone I was seeing was a teacher.  Lately everyone has been designing an ap.  It just fascinates me, seeing the connections everywhere…