London: dedicated to the people.
People are why we live. They make life life. Connections to others keeps us hopeful. It’s where we trek into the greatest depths of joy & the sharpest pains.. but it’s what makes us feel most alive. London was dedicated to the people. I’ve met amazing folks everywhere I’ve gone, but there was something about London.
I met a lad named Zaak (with two A’s). I told him I was taking photos of interesting people I meet/see while backpacking & asked if he could be one. He looked at me puzzled. With unguarded honesty, he asked: “You think I’m interesting?”.
Something about that almost child-like vulnerability really affected me. We don’t speak what we see in people enough. Zaak was awesome. He deserves to know that about himself. There’s this thing I try to do. Every person I meet, I compliment. If I see something in someone, I speak it. If you see something good in someone, speak it. Let them know what makes them Zaak (with two A’s).
People are worth investing in. People are worth getting to know— even if it’s brief. If you have 5 minutes with another heart, take each minute to make that person feel seen, known & acknowledged. My God, the wisdom we would posses if we approached every mind openly & ready to listen. Bill Nye (bill bill bill) said, “Every person you meet knows something you don’t”. People are digging sites for archeologists. There are so many things to uncover. Those beautiful artifacts are there— you just have to seek them out… gently brushing their insecurities away.. purposefully, slowly cracking their walls down. With determination, search. With curiosity, ask. With compassion, listen.
London was scattered with undiscovered treasures. I am so thankful for the hearts I got to explore:
Remi, the french barista working at a music store who poured his passions out like a wild river.. & gave me a free coffee. Paddy, the Irish bookstore owner who saw books as the breath of life. Gabrielle, the street musician who gets lost in the song of the city. Amelie, the worker at a bookstore, who walked me around to books & introduced me like old friends. Sara, my Italian friend, who opened her home to me & fervently works to create the world she wants to see happen. Jake, the skater, whose encouragement came as quickly & refreshing as his smile. Liddy, the designer who taught me that we return to our first. Adrian, the flee marketeer, who is madly in love with his boyfriend & showed me what sweet & lasting admiration from afar looks like. Frederico, the Italian full of life who listened to me but decided to challenge my ideas in order to improve myself.. which is one of the strongest ways to love someone. Zaak (with two A’s), the boy with the tattoos & the yellow beanie, who reminded me to speak the beauty of people.
I really believe heaven is found in other people. You catch a glimpse of heaven when you hear a friend pour their pain into your hands. You hear the songs of paradise when you make a stranger laugh. You feel the pulse of bliss when you quickly, lightly & deeply meet another traveler on the camino. Heaven isn't places-- it's the hearts we get to meet along the way... it's connecting to the deepest piece of our souls which make us human. It's looking at another person & seeing deep worth & purpose simply because they exist.. not because they have the same views or opposite views or pretty hair or good taste in music.
Friend, invest fearlessly. Seek fully. Love relentlessly. Engage always. Take advantage of every moment you spend with someone— whether it’s a waitress you’ll never see again or your mom. Every day is a new opportunity to love deeper.
May we awake with the curiosity to discover new depths of others. May we be brave enough to see beauty in others & speak it.
Further up & further in,
Brie
