The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.
Pat has been watching the tournament for more than seven hours. Golf -- watching others play it -- is just not as compelling to me as it is to her. Her face is enchanted. Several minutes ago, her arms made a putting motion involuntarily.
Business Center Pleasure
Leaving the hotel's Business Center tonight, after talking with my mom over Skype behind a closed door, the attendant says to me, "Ma'am, you would look so beautiful if you wore diamond earrings, like I'm wearing," and she points to her light-brown ears with the sparkling, white stones, looking more dramatic than they ever could against my pale, greenish-pink ears.
I'm wearing a red Teacher's College T-shirt, navy-blue Columbia University sweatpants and zero makeup, and looking at me then, anyone would need a good imagination to see me as beautiful. For a moment, I think she's trying to give me tips on how to make myself more determinately female. I look at her with annoyance for a split-second.
Then it hits me that she's just trying to be nice and I say, "Well, certainly, you look beautiful, wearing them."
"No, ma'am!" she says looking down shyly. Actually, she is a gorgeous woman and suddently, I feel like I'm flirting inadvertantly.
She looks back up at me and says, "I've noticed you and I was just thinking how they would look so nice --"
It makes sense that she would have seen me before, since we've been staying at this hotel for three weeks so far. Still, it feels great that she is acknowledging aloud that she has witnessed me. "Thanks," I say, smiling, and then walk out of the "Internet Room."
The Business Center exit is in front of me and I turn around and return to her. "I'm touched by your having been nice to me, especially your saying that you noticed me. Sometimes, walking around this hotel, I feel like I don't really belong anywhere and to hear you acknowledge having seen me makes me feel more connected. Thank you!"
She just smiles beautifully.
Showing posts with label kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kindness. Show all posts
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Well-wishers' Predictions, Reflections
The postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.
Great Quotes From the Week
"I know you will learn as much as you will inspire." -- a colleague I mentor
"You will learn more about yourself than about India. You will learn humility. Nothing happens in a linear way." -- a friend of a friend who lived there for a year while his partner was teaching at one of the universities
"Indian leadership is intellectual, very cognizant, cognitive...contemplative." -- Dr. Julia Sloan (author of Learning to Think Strategically); I was lucky to be introduced to her by my professor from last semester, Dr. Janet Youngblood, author of Learning Democratic Practices....; the three of us met at Teachers College on Monday for a great conversation!
"I loved India because of the people. They are polite, kind, intelligent, interested, not jaded, hospitable, non-judgmental." -- a friend of a friend who lived there for a year while teaching at one of the universities
His partner added: "...honest, open, warm, genuine, down-to-earth...." And: "The big cities make New York look like Nixon died and all of our flags are at half-mast -- like we're asleep compared...."
Great Quotes From the Week
"I know you will learn as much as you will inspire." -- a colleague I mentor
"You will learn more about yourself than about India. You will learn humility. Nothing happens in a linear way." -- a friend of a friend who lived there for a year while his partner was teaching at one of the universities
"Indian leadership is intellectual, very cognizant, cognitive...contemplative." -- Dr. Julia Sloan (author of Learning to Think Strategically); I was lucky to be introduced to her by my professor from last semester, Dr. Janet Youngblood, author of Learning Democratic Practices....; the three of us met at Teachers College on Monday for a great conversation!
I hope that you have a wonderful experience in India. I hope that you stay well, and that the work is productive and fulfilling for you. I hope that you are able to explore and savor the deep religious traditions in India. I hope that you gather a lifetime's worth of adventures and stories, all with happy endings.-- an EAGLE friend
I look forward to reading about your adventures on your blog(s)!
"I loved India because of the people. They are polite, kind, intelligent, interested, not jaded, hospitable, non-judgmental." -- a friend of a friend who lived there for a year while teaching at one of the universities
His partner added: "...honest, open, warm, genuine, down-to-earth...." And: "The big cities make New York look like Nixon died and all of our flags are at half-mast -- like we're asleep compared...."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)