“I think love, forgiveness and compassion are three things that we cannot have enough of in our lives, we often forget to give to ourselves…” —Matt
It’s a thunderous day today, and I’m water-logged rushing to make today’s time stamp. Not a bad thing, California has been going through a rough a drought and the rain is quite a blessing. But as the clouds rages, I find my self-wading in my own storm of turbulence.
Seems that half of my audio of today’s interviews of 3 amazing new friends has gone astray, corrupted by a faulty microphone cable. My monitoring was perfect, just the signal to the camera went south on us. Or should I say, became all washed up (Oh Richard, please, for the sake of all humanity, stop with rain metaphors).
But there is a silver lining… Of our three awesome new friends, (Lidia, Cindy and Matt), turns out that Matt’s words were salvageable. So Lidia, Cindy, please accept my sincerest apologies. If you would like to get together to interview, just get in touch with me. We can call this first go around a rehearsal.
Matt, the stage is yours, and I have a feeling that Lidia and Cindy are OK with what your sharing. Your words truly do sum up what you all had to say.
Do you fear your anger? Do you fear not having control? Do you fear of loosing control? Do you fear of being judged..? —Benny “The Jet” Urquidez
When you first meet him it is hard to look into his gaze. His history reads as who’s who list of martial arts and film credits (check out his IMDB). Just observing the poised body language he carries might make a person or two somewhat intimidated to engage with him as his eyes pierce deep into their subconscious.
At first I try to look away as I talk with him, but there is something too hypnotic in his expression to ignore. My role is to interview him, and for a brief moment I catch myself speechless, caught completely off guard, and not sure how to loosen my fears in getting to know him.
So I ask, a little wobbly, in anticipating a response, “Are people intimidated by your eyes?”
He smiles, “A lot of people say that,” and the ice is broken.
Benny is his name, rather “Benny The Jet,” an honorary title he has earned after decades of blending his authentic spirit of compassion to a field that can only be expressed as warlike. But The Jet is not a war searching man. He is a man who possesses an inner tranquility that is the genesis to his piercing eyes. In getting to know him it is apparent that he is sizing you up for the kill. He is inviting you in to a world of self-development.
Check out what Benny has to share, might pause you as it paused me.
“I am humbled to think of the possibility of future where people are serving one another. Not just because they are of the same religion, race or of the same anything, but, simply for the fact that they are another person who has a story just like they do. Everyone wants to tell their story… but they don’t necessarily want to hear someone else’s…” —Brian
Something about them drew me in. Perhaps it was the feeling as we passed on the sidewalk. Maybe it was my mind profiling those who seemed open and approachable. Or quite possibly it was the fatigue setting in as I fought off the day end weight of tired and heavy eyelids. But whatever it was, it stopped me in my tracks to interview todays “Strangers…” now “Friends,” Brian and fiancé Melissa.
In watching their interview, it is not a far reach to realize that Brian and Melissa are people with great conviction of their beliefs– smiling and enthusiastic followers of Jesus Christ. Speaking with ministerial excitement they express perspectives on sharing, listening and what’s to come.
Brian sums it up. “Why don’t we make it a future of looking outwardly, laterally, around us, and not just inwardly at ourselves; and ultimately, my prayer is, that we would look upwardly.”
Brian, Melissa, thank you for your faithful word. May we all take them into consideration as we ponder our own spirituality? For at the core of our discussion there is one undeniable condition. We are all of similar blood and have right to worship as our heart and spirit dictate. As Brian and Melissa have so eloquently displayed, so shall we be inspired to shine our light upon the world around us.
“Sharing is the most important thing in life… and when it comes to sharing we get to know people better than who we are…” —Milton
It’s a crazy day, slammed with deadline and commitments. Even as I write this I’m rushing to make a meeting. That’s the way it is when doing a 365 consecutive day outreach. I’ve done them before and this go-around is no different. But in the midst of the mad dash to make daily entries, comes the greatest of payoffs, one that I reach out in asking you to try.
No, I’m not challenging you to structure your life to a daily blog, or forcing any heavy addition to your already busy schedules. What I ask is much simpler: Take breath to engage with those around you. For it is around the edges of our self-focused agenda’s where many a jewel of unity can be found.
Today is such a day. For as I rush from place to place, I force myself to take a short hike. But it is more than a slowdown… it is a let go. With only a little over a week into O-365 blogumentary I’m already seeing a calming change in my heart rate (Even though the daily editing and writing routine is quite time-consuming).
That change I credit to one major cause, the turning of my focus away from myself and towards my fellow human (hearing an overwhelming expression of love from people I don’t even know). There in lies a challenge (and motivator) for all of us. That we may all take pause to look, listen and see the people around us. In this might we, as today’s friends, Milton and Manny have clearly spoken, “get to know people better than who we are.”
Operation-365… we were once “Strangers… now we are “Friends.”
Talk tomorrow my friends,
Richard
“Stay true to your authentic self in everything that you do. I think a lot of people spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think and are afraid to…” –Gina
“All things that happen in your life is designed… That God put people in your life for a reason… Faith is first… then it is integrity.” —Kenny
He resembles Hall of Fame’s Dave Winfield, Frank Thomas and Ozzie Newsome as he played for the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Montreal Expo’s. Then there is his time with the Buffalo Bills when he realized that the skies the limit in playing two Super Bowls. But his depth is deeper than his athletic success, charming character and pleasant disposition. Today’s stranger… now friend, Kenny, speaks of faith, respect, community, love and culture.
With the confidence of a seasoned coach he encourages us to dream big… the right way.
“Remember to be you. Authentically you and smile to strangers and love everybody but love yourself. Always, always, always just do that little bit extra, even if it’s not convenient. That’s my advice.” —Roshan
So there I was, sitting at my desk, consumed in completing a long list of tasks as I prioritized my actions. It’s a common ritual for all of us. Our life, our work and our play expands and contracts with deadlines and commitments. We end days on highs, and we end days on lows. Yet in all, lessons are learned.
On a regular basis we gaze upon our goal lists, contemplating our futures as we dream of “that day when.”
Why the sentimental intro? You might ask. Well, I re-learned another lesson today, one that directly links to the very reasoning that grounds why Operation-365 exists, and to why I will do my part in growing our community.
5:00pm… I peeled myself from my desk, redirected (by a nagging subconscious) away from what I perceived as the days priorities. You know, those quite thoughts that dwell in the background of what we agonize as have to do’s.
“Time to stop…” it whispered… “Get out of yourself,” It advised… “Your day has been full and there is someone you are meant to meet,” It challenged.
Now I’m only a few short days into our second one-year commitment of daily interviews of strangers (now friends), and today’s new friend has proven just how united we can be.
5:15pm… that little voice in my mind has directed me to Warner Park. I’ve been here before, even have made a few friends of 365 here. But today’s whisper feels more direct than ever. If there is one thing 365 has taught me, it is to acknowledge that little thing we call intuition. We all have it… but the question to ask ourselves is, do we follow it?
5:20pm… Park the car, and as I do, I notice two women walking towards me on the sidewalk. Something pushes me to approach them. OK, could be a creepy guy moment. I ready myself for rejection. But to ignore a first impression of my mind would have only left me questioning my motives. For I have promised myself, and you, that I will not profile whom I approach. That I would raise my chin to the world and follow the direction of the whispering voice to approach all that I lock eyes with.
5:21’sh pm. With business card in hand, “Hi I’m Richard, I’m a photographer and film maker…” I go on in beginning to explain O-365…
I’m stopped in my tracks as Roshan and her friend shut me down… “We know you!”
I’m shocked and a little worried. “You have,” I wobble.
“Wow, yes, I totally remember them. Great couple. Loved talking with them.” We open into a wonderful conversation.
That lesson I spoke of earlier, the re-kindling of the flame we call Operation 365. It truly is more than a series of interviews. It is the beginning of a great and united community. Roshan and her friends have proven this fact. For in a city of millions, it is possible for the paths of strangers to unite on common ground. The skeptics might lean on premises the likes of 6 degrees of separation or other similar theories. But for me, the idea is much simpler… Just speak with each other and simply leave it at that.
Talk tomorrow my good friends, and Roshan, your words have smitten us.
Today’s stranger now friend, Benjamin, begins, “I would say share who you are. Share yourself so somebody gets to know you, who you truly are. There is no time for hate or anything to be passed around. There should be more love going around. It’s not enough of that. I think people are loosing sight. It’s because we are all the same. Race is not an issue…”
“I’m 22 and I quit my job recently, and its been terrifying entering the business world as someone like me who has been, like, a sensitive musician my whole life and I’m starting to confront the things that most of us deal with on a daily basis, and that’s everybody’s obsession with status, success and power; and I feel like pursuing self-employment has become this ideal… but there is a really dark side that a lot of people really don’t talk about…” —Christopher
Flip says, “You cannot spell oblivious without obvious. There is all sorts of potential all around this damn world, all in your damn self, just staring you in the face… Leave something…”
