Aren’t we all just meandering life looking to connect with people who have similar interests to us, so we can share our passions?

Maybe?

I just say that intro because I am going to talk about flying – but don’t leave yet! – I am going to make it broad. I promise. No flying details! Don’t go!

Let’s see how short we can make this story – during the pandemic I did a presentation at work on the garage we were building (we refer to it as Dragonstone). The presentation was open to the entire region and people were so freaking bored that many attended.

I ended the call on a high*, feeling very cool and proud of all we had done to build it (we did it all ourselves except concrete, brickwork, gutters, and floor sealant).

TO THIS DAY, many people still associate me with building a garage. That’s how they approach me conversationally – they ask if we finished it, for an update, etc. (It’s virtually finished – we just need to insulate it before we can set up the radiant floor heating.)

So I’m at the holiday party in December. At the portion of the party where we’ve moved to a bar. A coworker approaches me and asks about the garage.

I tell him the spiel above – virtually complete! – but that we spend a lot of our free time flying now, that Steven got his private pilot license.

You would NOT believe how excited he was to hear this. Turns out he did his private pilot training all the way up until he was about to solo, then stopped.

So we talked for a bit, sharing stories, and he was incredibly enthusiastic, our voices raising to hear each other over the noise of the bar.

Then at some point he said “Kim, I’m hearing what you’re saying here” and pointed to his head, “but I’m feeling what you’re saying here” then held his hand over his heart.

Now, if that isn’t the nicest compliment I’ve had in a long time. I believed him. I could tell by how he was acting that he was really did feel that way.

Was he three sheets to the wind**? I mean… yes, 100% definitely, but you can’t fake that enthusiasm and connection, no matter what is fueling it.

So! I hope you all find your people that you can connect that enthusiastically about the things you are passionate about! It feels so good when you do.

*That high immediately became a low low when I ended it and saw I had a message from a higher-up telling me to call them – I found out then I didn’t advance in promotion I thought was made for me (it was truly a blessing in disguise – I am not meant for supervisory work).
**I was not drinking that night but had a headache that made me feel lightheaded and drunk. Yay…