John opened his locker to get his things when he noticed some commotion to his left. It seems some bullies had come along and knocked the books out this other boy’s hands, laughed and walked away. The boy looked lost and seemed to be in a daze as he hung his head and stared at the books that had been knocked to the ground.

While others laughed, stared and did a great job of being useless, John helped him with his books and offered him a kind word. And with that simple act of kindness, a friendship was born.

Several years later that young boy, grew into a man, found his voice and graduated Valedictorian. Of all the things he could have spoken about he told the story of how he met John. John had heard the story a million times until the story took a very impactful turn with the following words:

“What John doesn’t know is that I had just finished cleaning out my locker because I was done! I was done with life and I had planned to kill myself later that morning. John met me at the lowest possible moment of my life and gave me hope”

A few things about this story:

I took it from the internet (and modified the heck out of it)  . . . so it must be true! Actually, it might be the biggest bull sh*t story to ever grace the internet. Probably written by one those bastards who send you emails that you have to pass along to 10 people or your eye balls will melt or something but I digress. The point is that I don’t care if its true because the message is valid!

Behind everyone’s Social Mask (the face we put on for the world to see) is a person with a story, and they want to be heard!

And it isn’t just reserved for people who are emptying out their lockers gang.

This week I found out that the two people who designed my website are grand parents. Who freak’n knew! And here lies the big point. I read their response to my previous email, on the fly, on my blackberry and I almost missed “their story”

I learned that an author I’m just starting to “friend” used to live 10 minutes away from me.

I learned what someone was most proud of

I learned what someone is scared of

I learned that someone was getting frustrated with the lack of hits on their website

But I’m just rambling at this point.

All of this can be summed up with a simple phrase

Everyone has a story and wants to be heard!

If you click on that phrase it will take you to a free poster for you to hang up as a reminder! 🙂

This is the key to connecting with people ladies and gentlemen and if I may cite a verse from the “Uncle Paul’s Deep Sh*t” file

We all seek meaning and purpose and significance. Perhaps destiny will pay you a visit in the form of an opportunity to hear someone. Perhaps that’s part of your purpose.

All you need to do is listen!

Peace!