What's Underneath It All?

​The Big Rock

Taking a moment of pause atop one of the tourist attractions at Beaver Island, Michigan.

Left by the last Glacier period, it’s said that only 20% of the rock is actually visible.

What’s underneath it all is MUCH bigger.

Two years later, this got me thinking.

What’s underneath it all might be where it’s at! ​

---

“Peace, in its most fundamental form,
is the connection of one human spirit to another.” 
~ Bishop Desmond Tutu

---

Small Acts
Big Impact

Hello beauties!

In October 2021, Mike and I went to Beaver Island (the largest Island in Lake Michigan) for a getaway weekend.

After the short, bouncy plane ride from Charlevoix, we hoisted our bikes into the back of the rental pickup, (Yep, you can bring bikes with you on the tiny plane. Fantastic!)

The pickup was a little beat up, not particularly clean (but, highly fragranced from the pine tree air freshener hanging from the mirror 🌲😉) and it certainly was not new. The keys were in it, and there was a handwritten note from Bob, the owner, with a reminder of where to return the truck when we were finished.

As we began the drive towards our rental property, we noticed everyone we passed waved at us. Well, they weren’t exactly waving. People would simply extend some fingers from the grip around their steering wheel, smile, and nod. Sometimes four fingers were raised. Other times just the pointer finger. But always a moment of acknowledgement.

At first I thought, “Wow! Everyone must know Bob, and he must be really well liked on this island.” 😄

It took me a while to figure out . . . people on Beaver Island always greet one another, in some small way, when they cross paths.

For our short time spent in this isolated location, the simple acknowledgment of one another was . . . comforting? This subtle moment of recognition said, “I see you,” without having to say a word. It was nearly effortless, and yet, it fostered connectivity.

Of course, even in our small villages of Saugatuck and Douglas, “waving” at everyone we pass is not practical. 😆

But, no matter our surroundings, this got me wondering: What can we do to foster kindness and connectivity with our fellow travelers? Especially something that takes so little effort and still has impact??

I almost always wear a cuff bracelet that says, “Be the Light.”
It reminds me of my commitment to being a person who brightens the world.
For as many people as possible.
For everyone I connect with.
Yes, when I am teaching classes, but also as I move in the world.

I’m not thinking of grand gestures, or expensive options, I’m thinking of things as simple as (literally) lifting a finger.

• A compliment to the woman behind the counter at the grocery store
• A genuine “thanks for all you do” to someone in your community who volunteers or serves
• A moment to pause, and be present, as someone tells you a story
• A sincere “I’m sorry” when an apology will help mend

Honestly? We may never know the impact of our kindnesses.
But, that’s part of what it means to be genuinely kind.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about if we want to be joyful?
We have to feel, and experience, joy.
If we want to be calm?
We have to invite in, and practice, being calm.

We can’t ruminate in anger, or fear, or misery and expect to magically wind up in a different state of being.

So, here’s to doing small things that make a big impact.
For others.
And, for ourselves.

Love to all,
~ m

P.S. Planning a trip to ArtPrize in downtown Grand Rapids?
Voting begins TODAY @ 5PM.
You have to register to vote, and place your first vote, in person, in Grand Rapids. Then, you can vote every day from home. 🥰
Abdoulaye’s mural, Raining Wisdom, can be viewed @ 45 Ottawa Avenue. Measuring 30’ tall and 66’ long, it’s one of his most ambitious projects to date! ​