“People are ready to just people again.”
“Yes,” I said with ridiculously perfect pizza crust in hand. “Exactly, like-” I take a bite of the crust. “How did I not know about this place?”
A couple things came together for me while I was chewing with my mouth full of Angelo’s Pizza. Ridiculously good, Philly pizza. Cash Only and they scream your name: “Tooooooooony F. Sarah A. Terrence, Lisa, Jooooohhhhnny.” There are at least 30 people standing outside at 11am on a Sunday to pick up their pie and cheesesteaks.
I went in and get the accredited-Philly smile, “How are you hon?” I thought since I had been out of the city so long, I’d get the casually polite tolerance, but I got the neighborhood nod and I must say, I smiled inside. Not outside. Because Philly.
A few days before I had been in Quakertown, listening to people share the stories of the last few years (at a wellness event. I know, I know, I said I was going to keep my content separate, but I’ve decided that when I write here I share what I am: mother, writer, healer, dog lover, & human doing best she can)…and they were heavy. Everyone has something to unburden themselves with, and they were doing that. They were sharing their stories, getting work done (by me an others) and they were smiling. People were peopling.
Then a few days before that I was here:
Spending time, with amazing women talking about books they have written and those that they have yet to write and the same ideas were spilling over — people are ready to gather and feel inspired again. They want to create again, and they are done with the broad-sweeping experiences that leaves them feeling less than whole.
A friend of mine has invited me to be a part of his new Skool and although it is online, it is being built so personally, with different teachers in different time zones and bringing people into community — that I don’t need to read the marketing forecast that everyone has been speaking of — personal is back. Small is big. Real is cool. People want to people. People want to create, and goodness do we come with some amazing ideas inside of us!
When we are in true alignment with our own purpose and creativity — we overflow in fulfilling our own needs and those around us in ways we cannot imagine from our current state of doubt.
Like using the best dough in Philadelphia (Sarcone’s) to make pizza, and to run a shop that people come from all over for, and when you are out of dough you are out. That’s what I was tasting in the crust-inspired conversation. Anyone East Coast raised gets this vibe, and as I sit here trying to reach through this screen to tell you what I have unearthed during this month’s focus on Love & Books is this:
When I am out of dough, I’m out. I’m not slinging anything anymore, not that I was ever good at it, but I did a GREAT job judging myself for not being big enough or offering enough or — you get it.
Whether I am in person or online, I am keeping it local. Whether local means geographically or conceptually, Philly or Waimanalo — I am speaking to what moves me and trusting what follows. Period.
Why the declaration? I am done trying to wrap my arms around “all of it all of the time” or whatever the trends tells us are true. They are not true. Humans are magnificent and so are our embedded very personal dreams — big & small.
I even did a shorty 7 minute and 55 second podcast on this if you need a little pep talk. I reference, Martha Beck’s suggestion to “fill your time with life.” That’ll help you make some calendar decisions real quick.
I have a rather large course creator to thank for this revelation. She, or rather, her team handled something so poorly with me because they didn’t take the time to talk to me, they missed the moment. Thank goodness because it ripped the last shred of comparison I had (which I didn’t even know that I had!) My son asked me what was wrong and since he is so little, I tried to be evasive but assure him that nothing was wrong.
“Was it your boss?” he asked.
“No they don’t know me,” I answered flippantly.
He looked at me and I saw in his 6 year old eyes the question, I needed to ask: Why would we be upset about that?
“You are right bubs, they don’t know me. Why AM I upset about this?”
“I dunno he says,” cheeks red from a snow day.
I start laughing which gives him permission to do the same. Incidentally, I did go on an unsolicited pep talk while he ate his lunch, and now I sat down to share it here with you.
Because that is what I do (apparently that is exactly what a 1/3 generator is in human design so there you have it) and I hope it is some kindling to your day to Sit & Write or stand-up and walk away.
Either way, if you look around your own world, the one you are standing in there is a lot of beauty, a great local restaurant, a new friend or even a blank page that is waiting for you to find it so you can remember that what you have to share is needed.
Happy Wednesday,
Kate
Live Events:
If you are local: Claudine and I will be here on 2/15 come chat with us.
If you are not local and want me to chat with your community, let me know. I’d love to share the love.
I keep meeting people from Philly, Quakertown, etc.! I know people that love that same pizza. Small world. Great post!
I agree with you, Kate. People are definitely reconnecting and the results are amazing - smiles, laughter, sharing ideas and movement toward making dreams come true - completing important and fun projects that were put on a shelf. It’s a great turn around that will benefit all the world!