Thankful for Connection in a World of Disconnect
Happy Thanksgiving All,
Lately, I’ve been struck by how deeply connected we are to one another, even in ways we don’t immediately realize.
My daughter and I recently visited a nursing home and met Kassie. She stopped us, amazed at how much my daughter resembled her own daughter (who’s now 23). “She’s beautiful,” Kassie said. Smiling, I replied, “I am her mother, but I think so too,” acknowledging my bias.
As we talked, we discovered more connections. Kassie lost her mom the same year I lost mine. Her dad, like mine, is now at home and needs her help. But Kassie is recovering herself and feels guilty that she can’t always be there for him.
Her words and her story have stayed with me. I’ve found myself thinking about Kassie often since that day. There’s something about those moments of connection that remind us how intertwined our lives can be—even with people we meet for just a moment.
She suggested I visit again—and I want to.
The world sometimes feels big and overwhelming, but moments like these remind me of the invisible threads that bind us to one another. Sometimes, all it takes is a conversation, a shared smile, or a fleeting connection to remind us that we’re never as alone as we think we are.
What does the photo have to do with this story?
Nothing. My kids generated it with AI yesterday. But maybe the Thanksgiving turkey and Santa aren’t so alone either.
Originally published on LinkedIn.
The image was created by Midjourney using the following prompt: An image of a turkey who is happy. The turkey is running away from Santa, who is very mad.
