Another story of synchronicity.
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of being at the Book Expo America at the Javits Center in New York City. As one of the largest trade shows in the book publishing business, it was a little overwhelming considering there were over 3,000 vendor booths with more than 35,000 attendees passing through over three days. As someone who has attended many types of trade shows, I thought it was one of the best. The overall vibe was uplifting, and every person we engaged with was friendly and willing to be of service.
My associate, Jim Ryan, who is an author and motivational speaker from Long Island, was featured as one of the authors at their ongoing book signing area. His objective that weekend was to learn as much as he could about traditional publishing, marketing, distribution, sales as well as pitch his book, Simple Happiness: 52 Easy Ways to Lighten Up, to librarians and anyone else who might show an interest. He even did a live BEA Podcast sharing his motivation for writing the book.
The weekend flowed easily from the train ride to our booth to the great people we met to even some unexpected encounters. Synchronicity clearly unfolded, showing us that the universe was working with us or better yet--we were working with the universe. No worries. We had intended an attitude of openness to the unknown and we gratefully received whatever came our way.
Within all the masses, we managed to create a long list of wonderful connections and opportunities. One particular incident stands out and is worth sharing here.
While walking down a steamy 11th Avenue the Friday night after the BEA, Jim and I, hot from the heat and lugging heavy bags, spotted this curiously dapper man crossing the street. He was dressed in khaki slacks, a crisp white man-tailor shirt, and a matching vest with a large pink flower coming out of the breast pocket. Atop of his head was a classic brim hat that gave the impression he was from another era. He was toting a large trunk behind him. As he and his female companion approached us, I could not help but comment to him on how refreshed he looked compared to the rest of us dripping with sweat. He looked like it was 8 o’clock in the morning instead of 5:45 in the evening. He smiled and said, “That’s just the way I indented it to be!”
Since we were all walking in the same direction, Jim took up a conversation with him. It turns out that he was also an author and motivator of sorts who just came from Javits. As they chatted ahead of me now, I could see the back of the truck, which had large chalkboard that said, “Free Hugs Today.” By then the woman with him was walking beside me so we began to converse with one another. She shared some interesting things about the well-dressed fellow who was offering hugs.
Martin Neufeld is his name and he is a public hugger, a.k.a., the Hugger Busker. Neufeld, an actor out of work, decided to turn lemons into lemonade. After street performing was not getting the response he had hoped, his sister had suggested that he write on a sign that he has lost his courage. So he did just that. He sat on his suitcase in total stillness, like a living statue, next to a sign that proclaimed he had lost his courage.
What Martin experienced after that was like an epiphany. To his surprise, people resonated with his display of poignant motionlessness. It was a beginning to a soulful journey of observing and experiencing human kindness through the loving gesture of a hug. His quest to be an entertainer was magically transformed into an inspirator, affecting people’s lives around the world in a profound way. In his book, Hugger Life: A Practical Guide to Artful Hugging, Martin Neufeld offers a simple, yet easy approach to finding happiness through simply giving and receiving of hugs.
It was certainly no coincidence for Jim Ryan, a.k.a. The Happiness Man, to cross paths with the Hugger Busker. The universe aligned two ordinary men, who share a mirrored destiny--to be teachers of the heart. They both unexpectedly found simple solutions to help awaken human consciousness. And from two separate parts of the world they came together briefly to reinforce the power of their kindred spirits.
I smiled and knew we were in the right place at the right time when I asked the lovely Canadian lady what she did and how she came to know Neufeld. With a slight French accent, she quietly replied, “I am a Reiki Master and teacher of meditation. I am a friend who believes in his mission.”
A perfect God wink! That is exactly who I am to Jim Ryan!
(Check out Squire Rushnell’s book, When God Winks: How The Power of Coincidence Guide Your Life)
The human experience seems isolated and complex. Yet, it is all an illusion. When we dispel the outside world and embrace the truth within, we begin to awaken to the subtle weave of light that connects us all.
Perhaps enlightenment can be attained through the simple act of hugging.
Buddha—means to be awake. But that’s another story.
Maggie Kalas, RM, ATP
AttitudeLift, Take Your Potential to the Next Level
http://www.magsjoy.blogspot.com/
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