Making Connections

The town of Delta, CO can sometimes be a little rough and a little lonely. To the passer by, it may look like one of those cute and charming Colorado small towns. But it has the same problems many of those small towns have-poverty, drug use, neglected and abused children (and animals). Don't get me wrong...I like "The Underdog" and so enjoy living in this part of Colorado. And, despite its problems, Delta is made up of some of the biggest hearted people I know.

Connections are an important part of any living situation. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, making connections in life is often how we get through, how we persevere and how we deal with change and transition. I want to share this story of connection recently:

Rene and I were at the local park near the middle school late one afternoon. School was on break and four "tweenagers" (3 girls and a boy) were hanging out at the park. All of them were a little grubby, or a little goth, or a little grungy but they squealed like children when they saw Rene. Rene, mind you, is a bit of an anomaly in our neck of the woods. Delta virtually has no greyhounds, Montrose and Grand Junction have a few. Top that with her red fawn coloring and she looks a lot like a little deer.

We walked by and they gasped, "She is so beautiful! Can we pet her?" I replied that she is shy and so we would see how she would respond. They came toward her and she backed away. The kids then brainstormed, "what if we all sit down?" so they sat in a half circle with their hands reaching toward her. She was still a little shy but would move toward them, then back away. I had some treats so I gave each willing hand some, and Rene made her way around the group, eating treats and getting pets and praise. When it was time to go, they all said they will look for us again at the park. 

Some Delta young people can seem a little rough around the edges sometimes, and maybe they are. Maybe they have been written off by the adults in their lives, or neglected, or ignored, or yelled at. Maybe their parents have split, or one is dead, or another is addicted to something or another. But it made my day knowing that these kids, these rough around the edges but sweet heart kids, had a little "Rene Therapy" that made their day.

Little reminders to take a moment and be kind to each are life's way of nudging us forward, allowing our hearts to open to others. And then maybe their hearts will open to others. And maybe others will open their hearts to us. It's one big circle of connection.