How much can a change in perspective really change? Everything? Just maybe!

I’m feeling inspired today and even a little philosophical. Maybe it’s just me getting older and feeling more profoundly that my time here is so fleeting. I want desperately to leave a positive footprint and there seems so little time to do so. Or, maybe it’s just that through Bello Andy & I have been blessed to be invited into the lives of some pretty amazing people who awe & inspire me. Whatever it is, love has secured a stronghold in my life and changed my perspective. The love, it’s always been there, though usually reserved for people close to me…family, friends, and of course Andy. And, my perspective has always been fairly positive, though, I admit, sometimes singed with moments of cynicism.

Lately, however, I find myself filled with much love and for people I don’t really know…that sounds a little trite. But, it’s true. I have always believed that if you put good things out there, good things will find their way back to you. Through Bello, I am finding this to be even more truthful than I had ever imagined.

Sometimes we put good things out there without realizing or even intending it. And when we do, we are richer for it. Here’s a funny example: When Andy first came to the US, it took him a while to adjust to new expressions and the overall American way of life. Driving, especially here on the Cape in the summer, particularly took some getting used to. One day, Andy was driving along and a car pulled up behind him, riding him hard and aggressively. It was the end of a long summer of similar experiences and Andy’s frustrated response was to give the driver the British equivalent of “the finger.” If you’re not familiar with this hand signal, it is made by making the peace sign in reverse, with your palm facing your face and the outside of your hand facing the unfortunate recipient. There is also usually some hand waiving involved; the amount of which directly relates to the annoyance of the person delivering the un-peace-like hand-waiving message.

Anyway, giving this sign to a person behind you, at least here in the US, looks very much like you’re saying “Peace,” which is exactly how the aggressive driver behind Andy interpreted the message. And an amazing thing happened. The aggressive driver smiled, waved and gave the peace sign back, immediately pulling back his car, with his aggression seeming to disappear. This, of course, had an equally calming effect on Andy. He then waived back, this time with genuinely friendly intentions. And, both men drove off, smiling and feeling better about their day.

The reason I tell this story is because today I had a really good day and I realized I had such a good day because I made other people feel good and in so doing they returned the favor by making me feel good. It all started with a really wonderful e-mail from Jeanne, the mother of a groom whose wedding we recently photographed. The goodness continued throughout the day, right up through a wonderful phone call I just finished with Catherine Howe, this amazing woman and jewelry designer who is not only uber talented, but who also has an amazing gift of connecting people and connecting with people.

All day long, everything I seemed to touch was infused with good feelings thanks to my interactions with others. I couldn’t help but marvel at this law of nature…this “pay it forward” law of goodness, which if we open ourselves up to can enrich us in unimaginable ways. I am feeling so blessed.

The day isn’t over yet….who might you touch with goodness?