• Kindred Spirits Will Find Each Other.

    Posted on August 23rd, 2011 by and currently 23 commenting.


    Photo of one of my favorite things from Libby.

    The most amazing and wonderful email popped into my inbox last week from a young writer/story teller named Kathyn.

    Her heartfelt words stopped me in my tracks.

    She reads our blog.

    This is going to sound a little weird, but when I write for the blog, I honestly feel connected to our reading community (that would be YOU!) in a way I can’t explain. So – as you can imagine — it’s very rewarding when someone takes time out of their day to email me and let me know how our words have impacted their lives.

    Kathyn reminded me of a line I wrote in a post a while back, “Kindred spirits will find each other.”

    Yup. I do believe that. There are no accidents.

    So today, do me a favor and leave a comment. Say hello. To make it more fun, let’s take a cue from Kat’s “about” page on her site and list 20 things (or four!) that make you smile.

    People connect through shared passions.

    Let’s just see what we have in common.

    I’ll go first:

    babies
    the first cup of coffee
    my kids laughter (still)
    remembering stories that make you laugh til you cry
    the smell of rain on hot summer sidewalks
    dinners at home with real napkins
    a field of bachelor buttons
    a full tank of gas
    an entire day spent outdoors
    hot yoga
    lead pencils
    hugs from the heart
    blackberries (the real ones)
    clean sheets
    waking up
    looking up
    getting a funny text
    ordinary life
    cold beer
    those first bits of conversation in a meeting
    chalkboards

    Okay, you go. Let us know you’re listening and share a few smiles with us this Tuesday morning.

  • KatieP

    Hello … it’s not Tuesday morning here any more, it’s the early hours of Wednesday so I should be in bed. But here are some things that make me happy :

    the first cup of tea
    sunshine
    kisses that end in a smile
    cats with attitude
    satin pillowcases
    Diet Coke
    orchestral music
    photography
    learning something new
    sacred sex
    bottoms
    clean towels
    waves crashing on white sandy beaches
    writing
    back scratches
    hand written cards
    new books
    old films
    chocolate
    love of all varieties

  • Morgan

    Agree with lots of those already posted. Here are mine. The first one happened (again) this morning.

    People who laugh with you and not at you when you own up to a silly mistake.

    Fresh homemade biscuits.

    Dinner, at the table, with my wife, son, and his soon-to-be wife.

    The fit our dog has when my wife and I hug.

    Finding an old movie and falling in love with it.

  • W W

    My parents always reminded me that there are no chance meetings. Every interaction has the opportunity to help us in some way. Or to help someone else. It’s up to us to figure out how and which one.

    a kiss from my wife or daughter
    photographing people
    that first cup of coffee
    a warm campfire
    live music
    organic food
    an empty page
    ocean sunsets
    a good joke
    an autumn trail
    quiet snowfalls
    animated movies
    fast cars
    crashing waves
    heat lightning
    a smile or thanks
    my iPhone
    and anything with an LED

  • Justin

    “Dinner, at the table, with my wife, son, and his soon-to-be wife?”

    Wow. That would make for an awkward dinner ;-)

  • Justin

    Oh man. I just realized you were referring to your son’s soon-to-be-wife. I thought you meant YOURS :O

  • Morgan

    Glad you picked up on the difference. Nevertheless, sometimes awkward can make you smile.

  • Aaron Templer

    my wife
    my wife smiling
    my wife doing the running man
    my wife doing a dog impression
    my wife sleeping
    my wife

  • Kelsey

    my boyfriend
    the smell of fresh laundry
    a good road trip with good friends/family
    weddings
    my parents
    my brother
    my alma mater
    having a real job
    bubble baths
    beaches
    family vacation
    snowboarding
    sweatshirts
    chick flicks
    sunrises/sets
    seeing friends (especially after being apart for a long time)
    puppies
    random text messages
    reading by a fire
    beautiful photos (nature or photos of a good memory)

  • W W

    Love how 7-12 are grouped together… ;-)

  • http://justpaperroses.com/anniversary-gifts Jeff Block

    babies that belong to someone else
    second cup of coffee
    any kid’s laughter
    forgetting stories and just making up new ones
    lost my sense of smell 25 years ago :o (
    dinner out, anywhere
    a field of bachelorette buttons
    driving my Pd4 (paid for) for a month on one tank of gas
    an entire day spent at the beach
    cold yoga-urt
    where’s the dang pencil sharpener?
    loving-kindness, from the heart
    blueberries (the real ones)
    clean sheets every day! 
    waking up before 1 of my cats wakes me up
    looking up, but not while driving
    humor now spread electronically – hope you’re enjoying this!
    NO LIFE IS ORDINARY
    cold beer, whether I need one or not
    end of a meeting, hopefully soon after the beginning
    5 granddaughters using our driveway as their chalkboard

  • http://justpaperroses.com/anniversary-gifts Jeff Block

    I meant to add this pic to my blog post

    enjoy!

  • Robbin

    Sweet. I told you I love to hear from our readers. Thanks for making it remarkable! The first time anyone has posted a photo.

  • http://twitter.com/DanHolm Dan Holm

    The first cup of coffee
    My kids sleeping the entire night
    My kids laughing
    Crisp, cool, fall air
    Starbucks on Christmas day
    Getting a great deal on Amazon
    Finding shoes that fit, just right
    Coming across a really powerful quote
    Getting my hair cut
    The smell of my wife, right below her ear
    A day with no meetings
    Jeans
    Seeing someone young – filled with fire
    Dave Matthews Band
    Driving with my wife
    Making someone laugh
    Home movies
    Perfect restaurant service
    Finding a new song, that you can’t stop listening to

  • http://twitter.com/LisaMacDonald LisaMacDonald

    My kids
    Small mammals: babies, puppies, kittens
    The smell of fresh ground coffee
    Clean sheets 
    Falling asleep with my head in my husband’s lap
    Losing myself in a book
    Post-its
    Creating anything where something wasn’t before
    My best friend (since kindergarten)

  • Jessica Creter

    My favorite coffee mug.
    Red wine.
    My kids. They’re pretty awesome.
    “Whisky River” by Willie Nelson.
    Martha Stewart’s cranberry scone recipe. Except I make it with craisins because it is so much faster.

    On a side note, I started reading this blog (and the book) for work inspiration, but stick around for the life inspiration. I like (love) that those two things overlap and intertwine so nicely here.

  • http://twitter.com/OberBecca Becca Obergefell

    Things we have in common….babiesthe first cup of coffeemy kids laughter (still)hugs from the heartclean sheetslooking upcold beer
    and a few more of my own: http://beccaobergefell.com/move/smile/418/  Thanks for inspiring a blog post. This time of year gets stressful and it’s nice to have a list of reasons to smile. 

  • Pingback: What makes you smile? « Becca Obergefell

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=877220645 Melanie Knauff Scheerschmidt

    an “I love you.”
    a specific “I love you!”
    that moment when thoughts come together into an “ah-ha–that’s how it will work” moment!
    when I’ve bathed and brushed my dogs-fresh!
    warm towel after swimming
    cuddling down into my pillows and blankets at night
    comments on my status!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=688513288 Jessica McMullen

    a great idea
    when hard work is done and looks effortless
    my family
    my book club
    When I ‘get’ someone
    great chocolate
    pinterest
    Driving into my old home town
    Driving out of my old home town
    Hawaii
    Being able to offer good advice

  • http://twitter.com/NoMeatballs Amy

    finding the just-right quote
    real letters in the mail
    inspiring graffiti 
    antique photos
    bungalows
    linen drying on a line with wooden clothespins
    lemons
    wine, cheese and bread
    any body of water (puddle, bathtub or ocean)
    memories
    sunflower fields
    airports
    mason jars
    carving pumpkins
    family traditions
    cashing in change
    a book and a perfectly rainy day
    going barefooted
    chalkboards x2

  • http://twitter.com/NoMeatballs Amy

    finding the just-right quote
    real letters in the mail
    inspiring graffiti 
    antique photos
    bungalows
    linen drying on a line with wooden clothespins
    lemons
    wine, cheese and bread
    any body of water (puddle, bathtub or ocean)
    memories
    sunflower fields
    airports
    mason jars
    carving pumpkins
    family traditions
    cashing in change
    a book and a perfectly rainy day
    going barefooted
    chalkboards x2

  • http://equinejointsupplements.blogspot.com mauricio

    The information is very interesting. I like the post. 

  • http://twitter.com/#!/jayessjaybee Jana Brunken

    All day I made note of when I was smiling… just thinking about smiling makes me smile :) Solving puzzlesLooking through old photosCurling up with my husband at the end of the dayCute kids doing cute thingsFinding a good dealGetting compliments on a home-cooked mealCake with icing
    Singing to the songs on the radio
    Completing a strenuous hike, bike ride, or other exerciseCatching the punchline of intelligent humorGoing home
    Being able to chat online with people through the dayPlanning vacationsDreams of our future familyM&M blizzardsWhen Georgia Tech wins
    Connecting with a child/teenagerA sharpened pencil with a full eraser–it’s got to be really sharp!Coming home to a clean houseMy husband’s song parodies