Hello! This is week 31, of the 365 More People Pictures project.
Day 210 - Mike
This is Mike. We met at a little restaurant in Lilliwaup, Washington, where my husband and I had stopped for lunch.
"I'm happy with myself and my life," Mike answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
When I asked Mike if he's recently performed an act of kindness, or if he's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness, he explained that he tries to be friendly to people, and added, "I'm trying to be kind to myself so I can be kind to others."
"To make the most of my journey, whatever that is," Mike answered, when I asked his life's purpose.
When I asked Mike something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he answered, "learning more about myself and having more compassion for others."
My husband and I are seriously considering a move to a little cabin in the woods, near Hoodsport, Washington. I've been worried that if we move, I may not be able to find enough willing people to sustain a new project, should I decide to keep going after completing this current 365 day streak. After meeting Mike, I'm a little less worried. Yes, the population is a fraction of that of Portland/Vancouver, where I live currently, but moving to Hoodsport/Lake Cushman will be a completely different lifestyle.
Although there are fewer people, there isn't going to be a shortage of friendly folks who would enjoy taking a moment out of their day to share a little about themselves and let me take their picture. A couple sitting at a different table joined our conversation when they overheard Mike and I discuss this project and my possible plans to move to Lake Cushman. They assured me there are plenty of people in the neighboring towns, and they convinced me I'd find the familiar spirit of Portland also exists in Port Townsend, Washington. If everyone is half as friendly as Mike and the other couple at the restaurant, I know we won't regret our decision to move.
Day 211 - Rus
This is Rus. We met outside of Velo Cult, where he was out testing a bike he was working on.
"I'm alive," Rus answered, when I asked the happiest thing happening in his life right now.
I asked Rus if he's recently performed an act of kindness and he answered, "Every day! Fixing bikes and making people smile!" I had only just met Rus but he had already made me smile by this point. He's just one of those people who makes you feel a little happier, simply by being around him.
"Take life one day at a time," Rus answered, when I asked if he has a personal mission statement.
When I asked Rus something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he answered, "I have a lot of success - I have a beautiful daughter."
Thank you, Rus!
Day 212 - Tara
This is Tara. We met at the bus stop.
The happiest thing happening in Tara's life right now, are her kids.
I asked Tara if she had recently performed an act of kindness or if she's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness and she answered that on receiving end, one of her customers had bought her a birthday cake. On the giving end, she turned around and bought a T-shirt and cap for that same customer! She went on to explain that she and that customer have sort of adopted each other. The customer lost his wife and daughter in a car accident and if that wasn't devastating enough, he then faced several other challenges that stemmed from the accident. I was so glad to hear the man had such a nice person, Tara, in his life. We can find some of our best friends in people who on the surface, seem like unlikely matches.
"Being a Mom," Tara answered, when I asked her life's purpose.
When I asked Tara something about herself which she would consider to be a success, she answered, "being a mom! My kids are awesome!"
Thank you, Tara.
Day 213 - Joseph
This is Joseph. We met at the bus stop.
Joseph is a gentle giant. He's the most gentle, soft-spoken person I've met. His gentle nature caught me by surprise because he's packaged in a football player's body.
The happiest thing happening in Joseph's life is that he's going to be a Father soon! His baby is due next month!
"I always help homeless people, and help the people downtown," Joseph answered, when I asked if he's recently performed an act of kindness.
When I asked Joseph his life's purpose, he answered, "I want to be a hard worker, to be able to pay back my parents for what they've done for me." I'm just guessing here, but I bet Joseph's parents are already so proud of the man he's become, and the father he will soon be.
When I asked Joseph something about himself which he would consider to be a success, he was having a hard time thinking of an answer. He asked me for examples of what other people had said, and after listing a few of the responses I could remember off the top of my head, Joseph then got a great big smile on his face and answered, "I'm a good cook!"
Thank you, Joseph! Wishing you and your new little family the best of luck, and a lifetime of love and happiness.
Day 214 - Rachel
This is Rachel. We met at Mt. Tabor Park.
When I asked Rachel the happiest thing happening in her life right now, she answered, "the time change, so that I can get off work and go walk in nature and read." I whole-heartedly agreed with Rachel and told her I welcomed the change as well. It was my first day back at Mt. Tabor, after our long and dark winter.
I asked Rachel if she's recently performed an act of kindness or if she's received an act of kindness and Rachel explained that she's a teacher, so she feels like her days are spent both giving and receiving kindness from her students.
The strangest thing happened when I asked Rachel if she has a personal mission statement or if she could make one up. Rachel gave me sort of an unusual look and then told me that she had just written one a few minutes ago, while she was hanging out at the park! Wow! What are the odds that after you had just penned a personal mission statement, that a complete stranger would then approach you to ask if you have one? I think we both appreciated the synchronicity of our encounter. Rachel's beautiful and poetic personal mission statement: "I want to be dirty and strong. And grounded and compassionate. And knowledgeable and capable. And gentle and creative and intelligent."
I've been asking these questions hoping that the conversation could help the people in this project to identify and define what they want from life, and what they want their contribution to be. But, I've also known that I've been searching for direction for myself. In Rachel's words, I had found what I had been looking for.
When I asked Rachel something about herself which she would consider to be a success, she answered that she's had a successful teaching career.
Thank you, Rachel.
Day 215 - Jason
This is Jason. We met on the street.
The happiest thing happening in his life right now are his grandchildren.
Jason's recent act of kindness is that he helped a stranger pick up their shopping bags when they had dropped them.
"Life's too short to be angry," Jason answered, when I asked if he has a personal mission statement or life's purpose.
When I asked Jason something about himself which he considers to be a success, he answered, "my daughters."
Thank you, Jason.
Day 216 - Becca
This is Becca. We met at the bus stop.
The happiest thing happening in Becca's life right now is her daughter.
I asked Becca if she's recently performed an act of kindness or if she's been on the receiving end of an act of kindness. On the receiving end, Becca's co-worker worked for her when she had been ill, and on the giving end, Becca worked the schedule in such a way to be able to give more hours to a co-worker who needed them.
"To teach people and to inspire," Becca answered, when I asked Becca her life's purpose.
When I asked Becca something about herself which she would consider to be a success, she answered, "I'm intuitive, and teaching peole."
Thank you, Becca!
Here's the summary of personal mission statements and life's purposes of the subjects from this week:
- To make the most of my journey, whatever that is.
- Take life one day at a time.
- Being a Mom.
- I want to be a hard worker, to be able to pay back my parents for what they've done for me.
- I want to be dirty and strong. And grounded and compassionate. And knowledgeable and capable. And gentle and creative and intelligent.
- Life's too short to be angry.
- To teach people and to inspire.
Thank you for following along!