I’m back…well, at least for one.

I know. You’re surprised to find me here. Join the crowd.

I didn’t expect to find me here either. At least not now. But, it’s true. I’m here. And, thankfully, so are you. I say thankfully because this isn’t about me. It’s never really been about me. I mean the writing is. Mostly because I find it therapeutic in a way. But what has always surprised me (humbled me?) is when one of you makes a comment about something I wrote and that it made a difference for you. I’ll be honest, that was never the intent, but once I found out it was happening, it became nothing but a good thing.

A few people have asked me recently about my return to this space. I think I knew it would happen, I just wasn’t sure what would get me here. Honestly, I’m still not sure. I think my point is I’m more about an experience or a moment. I’m not good on day to day stuff, at least in terms of blogging. For here, for me, and therefore for you, it’s really always been about that moment or that experience.

And, honestly, the way today started, I wouldn’t have expected it to be a blog worthy day, but it’s the way it ended and how it all came together that brought me here. One of the amazing things about being here? I even remembered my password on the first try. I’m already winning.

I started my day in a room of high school seniors. I was part of a group of adults there to work with them on networking and creating connections. This was in a class to help prepare kids for the workforce and learning the necessary soft skills to be successful.

The truth is, I hate networking. There are few things in this world that scare me more than walking into a room or an environment with people I don’t know. Surprising based on my work? Maybe. But it’s true.

However, what I value — perhaps as much as anything — is the notion of connection. Establishing and building the relationship

It was a great experience, and the kids did a fantastic job. Far better than I could have done at 17. One of the things I told them centered more around connection than networking. To me it’s deeper than that. I just told them how the world constantly get smaller, never burn a bridge and realize that it doesn’t take much this day and age to be connected with someone. And when you have that connection, value it, mostly because you never know — you just never know — when you’ll rely on that person in the future for something — be it work-related or not.

And that’s how my day melded together — connection. That’s because tonight (or last night as you read this), I spent a few hours with two of my dearest friends from high school. I didn’t see the connection (see what I did there?) between these two elements of my day until I started thinking more about it.

And then it hit me. What I did today is an example of what I talked about this morning — connection.

My two friends and I have an irreversible bond. It’s been that way for a long time. The irony — at least a bit — is we were friends in high school, but we weren’t as tight as we are now. That happened after high school. Why? Connection or common ground. Or, connection based on common ground. There’s a difference.

I don’t really care for the reason. I don’t. What matters so much to me is that I have those relationships — and that I have a connection (there’s that word again).

I’m not sure I really need to tell you about the benefit of having friends that you see only a few times a year, but no matter when you do see them, you fall right back in line like it’s 1985. Except it’s not. And while the initial connection is what links us, it’s the growth of the friendship an the bonds that have strengthened us. These are people who have supported me in trying times, and for whom I have done the same.

You probably have people like this, too. And for that I’m glad. You should be so lucky to have these two as friends. I know for sure that I am.

So as I was driving home tonight, I was wondering about those high school seniors. This networking project was to help them establish connections in a very short window of time that may assist them as they move forward. But I wonder if they also have the connections like I do that help them do more than just build a relationship, but cherish it.

I see it in my kids — one a senior and one a freshman. They each do it their own way, which has taken me a while to appreciate. But, the point is, I believe relationships mean a lot to them — they just show it in different ways.

And that’s part of what I told the seniors today, too. Show yourself for who you are. Don’t be someone else. Be you. And find a way to set yourself a part, because once you can do that, you can do anything — from networking to even making a deeper and more meaningful (wait for it) connection.

That’s all for now. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but I’m grateful for your continued support.

---