March: Staring Contest

“Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.”

She stares at me, doesn’t flinch at our eyes meeting in the middle. She holds it, no discomfort or weirdness present. She holds it. 

A gaze clasped like gentle hands, until I pick her up and hold her before her walk. 

Ginger is my dog. She doesn’t speak, but she communicates.  She can’t talk, but her simple eye contact is more than most folks can accomplish these days. 

I’ve been reflecting on how little time we spend with faces, how little eye contact can be made as I purchase coffee, how split my attention gets as I’m out in the world, or how easy it is to reach for the screen while my partner talks. 

I noticed it with myself first, why did I rush out of that interaction? Why did I look away? Why do I assume it’s awkward to hold attention? 

Not in all instances of course, but there are moments in my day to day that have somehow become transactional. 

And I wish it wasn’t. I have such a colossal craving for connection, it’s the most human thing about me. And about you.

We thrive when we connect, it’s a need we seem to make so small for the absolute shame of saying we need someone. 

I need you. 

My favorite conversations have all been about leaning in, getting deep, and curating necessary intimacy with my people. I’m honestly pretty bad at small talk.  

And, how can we all know so many people online and somehow never find anyone to walk our dog when we’re out town? More importantly, isolation is too easy in a world that desperately aches for us to support and see each other.

So I repeat what Anais Nin wrote, “Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.” 

Committed, I will lean in, I will hold you with my gaze, I will gamble with perceived awkwardness and win. 

Whether you watch Ginger for a week or not, I can’t wait for us to see each other. :)