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As I walked through a downtown neighborhood yesterday, I experienced four epiphanies in ordinary people.

Two women crossed the road in front of me, comfortable with silence, each with an arm around the other.

At the edge of the intersection, another two women were facing each other. Holding both hands. Looking into each other's eyes. Listening and telling their stories.

A moment later, I passed a man on his porch with a guitar, singing loud and raucous songs. All production, no sensitivity. Not a care for the neighbors.

At the same moment, across the street, two guys were sitting on the park grass, also with guitars. Quietly playing music, listening intently to one another.

They Spoke To Me

I loved the implicit mutual support of the women crossing the road.

I know. Not many people stroll the corridors of power with their arms around each other. But in every organization there is a tremendous amount of quiet, sometimes unspoken, respect and upholding.

What makes our workplaces healthy is the way we help each other through the busier intersections in our lives. Arms metaphorically around each other.

The two women talking eye-to-eye spoke to me of the colleagues with whom we can say exactly what's happening. Thus bringing big problems down to size. Celebrating small successes.

For a second, the soloist on the porch drew my scorn. Then I softened: at least he cared enough to sing. Sometimes the person who just puts their feelings out, tells us what no one else will.

So if he was too rough or loud? Someone will cool him down.

Seeking Feedback

Overall, the guys in the park most touched me. On the surface, just a couple of kids hanging out.

But in a way we males don't find so easy. No macho jostling. No alpha male posturing.

Just showing what they could do. Asking for advice. Giving each other feedback.

The message: "I want to keep improving; so talk to me."

120 Seconds

All those beautiful revelations passed by my eyes in literally two minutes.

You can understand why, for the rest of my walk, I had this big sappy grin on my face.

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