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Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 397: Why Should People Do This?

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“It’s good for all to find common ground, and when you are put on the spot like this, you really tell the truth about how you feel about what’s going on; and you can only go forward when you get a bunch of great ideas together…” —Tasha

“I’ve got to get my head in the right place,” rings in my head as I am writing this entry. Yesterday Lucy gave us advice on responsible use of technology. I agree with her. Yet, as a tool in bringing us together, it is equally as relevant. This age of worldwide web has allowed us an instant connectivity live never before.

Through it, it is almost uncomfortable to think about how easy it is to connect when comparing it to that of engaged face to face. I guess it is easier to commune within the seemingly safe walls of electronic distance. A place where we are free from physical attack or hard to escape exchange. A place where one quick mouse, or button-click, terminates just about any dialogue or uncomfortable situation. Although with this protective barrier we are at risk of paying a price that is possibly worse than the risk of engaging in good old face to face.

I know there is many a time where we are afraid or intimidated to reach out to the physical beings that are walking flesh and blood. After all we all have that sense of self-protection and do deserve our privacy. So we default to the mind connect (or is it?) of digital bliss. Reject me or accept me, it matters not. For If I find myself in strange places, or hearing words that I don’t understand, a new connection or found similarities are only a message, or comment away.

Now don’t get me wrong, as I regularly state, our modern methods of communication and its aligned information stream are a fantastic thing. But as yesterday’s friend, Lucy, has called out, only if used wisely.

Why this preemptive reasoning in introducing today’s episode and friends? Call it a comparison. For today has not been an easy one in talking to strangers. I’ve learned over time that there are days when it seems that the world is conspiring against me, and today is such a day. It’s late, and with 3 hours of rejection after rejection behind me, I default to one of my halls of comfort to lick my wounds… Starbucks, corner of Fallbrook and Victory. A place where I have had many a friendly conversation with that guy, or gal, at the table next to me.

Yes, I am that annoying man who is always saying “good day” and trying to talk to you. Most of the time it is an engaging experience. While I do admit, some throw those piercing “stay the hell away from me!” eye glares; something that I have learned to appreciate in a bizarre way. After all, we all deserve our private time, and must respect the reactions put upon us via the cultures we live in.

The reality is pretty straight forward, there is no way we can have an idea of what is going on in the mind of our unknown neighbors. The only thing we do have control over is our own thoughts and actions. That is the free agency we all have right to. That right to be left alone is an inalienable one that we all have claim to.

But here is the thing, how do we choose to express ourselves? Is it in the many a time falsified world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or the plethora of vicarious devices that are readily at our keystroke? Or, is it through taking the risk of good old face-to-face dialogue?

There is no black and white, right or wrong, answer to this question. Only a nagging examination of our own hearts, lifestyle and even the content we choose to contribute that can truly govern our answer… and more profoundly, our actions.

My camp? I’m all for the new tech, but with one distinctive amendment, “It must be used as an augmentation to humanly connected interactions.” For to get lost in the maze of online tunnels of relationships, and information, is par with a socialized form of solitary confinement.

Yes, I’ve been heavily rejected this evening, and do not bring to you an experience of meeting, or hearing the council of a complete stranger. I’m bowing to the acceptance of this is OK. Because at least I had a chance to feel of the emotions experienced by not being accepted through this night.

However there is a silver lining to this experience, one that is pulling at my intellectual self (even as I write this rather lengthily entry). A commodity that is free to purchase as I settle back at the patio of my fallback healing place, namely this Starbucks, corner of Fallbrook and Victory. For here, and unexpectedly, I commune with past “Strangers…” now “Friends” as we again resume our dialogues of politics, education and society (365 Day 245 / “The Patio Rats Convene”). Some points we wholly agree on, others we adamantly debate, but in the ends one fact stands strong, I have no idea of who we’ll meet tomorrow and what we will talk about, and my friends, that is way OK with me.

Operation-365… we were once “Strangers…” now we are “Friends.”

See you tomorrow,

Richard

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 396: Flavio and Lucy (Part Two) – "Everyone Is Looking Down"

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“Turn off your electronic equipment, if only for a day. It is harming the children in ways we don’t realize. It’s okay to use an iPad for learning, some science, or learning something, but what I usually see are people completely disconnected to the world. Everyone is looking down…” —Lucy

The last week I had grand intentions of writing some kind of wisdom that aligned with what our new friends are bringing to the table. Even when meeting Flavio and Lucy at a birthday party my daughter was invited to, words and thoughts rung in my mind. Now starting our 3rd week of O-365 blogumentary (and getting up every morning at 5am to edit before my “real” job starts) the full weight of this commitment is bearing its reality on me.

But just as the first one-year challenge (September 9, 2011 to September 9, 2012), the tired self cannot be slept. The payoff is way to great to let mere fatigue slow me. It is more than my stubborn Taurus personality that pushes me. It is the inspirations being shared by so many. They are much too precious to shelf.

So we will continue to meet new people. Hear fresh and repeated perspectives; and in all, my hope is unhidden. That we will kindle our desire to know our neighbors, support our communities, and as often as we can, raise our chins to greet the world.

As Lucy so well observes, “Everyone is looking down.”

Operation-365… we were once “Strangers…’ now are are “Friends.”

Talk tomorrow my good friends,

Richards

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 394: “Why Don’t We Quite Ourselves?”

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“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.

Talk tomorrow my good friends,

Richard

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 393: “Peace… Out”

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“Professionalism is delivering the product that you said you would deliver, with your own slant to it” —Richard (That’s me) and our new friend Steve…

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 392: “More Positive Vibes Out There… That’s For Sure.”

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“Be kind… Put a smile on someone’s face, even if you don’t know them.” — Angie

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 390: “Is Open-Minded 2 Words?”

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“One of the most difficult things we have is to try and convince folks to do something other than what they’ve been doing for the last 10 or 20 years…” –Vince

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 389: “Beautiful Music”

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“We need to all live together as a single unit. Care about each other, It’s not about race or religion. It’s about people. I’m blind, which means I’m color blind. Everybody is just a person and we need to view people as equals…” —Sean

They are called CRE OUTREACH – Theatre by the blind.
The show is called “Walk Me Home:” A fitting title for a group of people who have literally touched on the very subject of community. Jenifer is her name and upon spotting her sitting for a break (outside of an alley building in Santa Monica), I invite her to O-365 Blogumentary. A little resistant at first, she agrees as she quickly edits her response. “My boyfriend is inside rehearsing for a show that his all-blind theatre troupe in producing, we should go see if they are interested.”

Two minutes later I’m standing center stage, introducing 365 to a room full amazing people. I look around getting to know the cast and as I do, I realize I’ve been invited into a melting pot of culture and personal history. Heads nod and faces smile with a wisdom that profiles me not. I’m humbled by this acceptance and quickly am relieved from the insecurities I felt at first invite. My heart is warmed as I think, “this is the way we all need to treat each other.”

There is a negative saying in the world. One that (forgive me friends of CRE) is used far to flippantly by one to many an eye-sighted person. That phrase, “The blind leading the blind.” What an insensitively written premise and one that I am ashamed to publish in digital domain. But in authoring its review, I call us to accountability.

Some may inquire. “Richard, why are you beating on us, Operation-365 is supposed to be a feel good read?”

Know that I love you guys and no terse tone is meant in this entry today. Really quite the opposite, it’s just sometimes we meet people who shake us up to gaze upon the positive. Today is such a day. For in a quite alley, and through Jennifer’s reserved outreach this afternoon, our vision has been opened.

The answer remains to be felt and a poignant question is posed. Who is leading who?

I have no definitive answer and leave it to each of us for thoughtful consideration. Yes, a ballot has been cast and our minds have been opened (all thanks to a room full of visionary people).

To sum it up let us meet musician Sean, our new friend (no, new spokesman) of Operation-365).

SHAMELESS PLUG:
I’ve promised not to submit to the advertisers of the world in allowing them to exploit the reach of Opeation-365. Yet, after meeting the troupe of CRE Outreach, it would be utterly wrong to not promote what they do. So here you go. Lets see if we can fill their performances!

Walk me home

When Tristan, a blind High School Senior is suddenly faced with the return of his absentee, alcoholic father, he finds a friend in Ashley, his new neighbor and classmate who is also blind. As Ashley fights for freedom from her overprotective parents, the two help each other navigate the turbulent waters of their senior year and realize that their connection is stronger than either of them could have anticipated.

But just as Tristan is forced to confront his father, their bond is threatened when Ashley is faced with the choice of staying with Tristan or attending a prestigious college. At the end of the day, will their love for each other withstand the current, or will the tide pull them in opposite directions?

CLICK HERE FOR SHOWTIMES AND TICKETS

Talk tomorrow my good friends,

Richard

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 388: More Love Than Expected

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“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

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 387: “Authenticity and Love… That’s Two.”

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“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