1/
I reached into the console and fished around for my badge. It wasn’t there. My brow furrowed.
Me: “Badge, we are not doing this today.”
My hand swept over my passenger seat as I eked closer to the parking garage. Still no badge. Now I was almost at the entrance.
Grrrr.
I reached into the console and fished around for my badge. It wasn’t there. My brow furrowed.
Me: “Badge, we are not doing this today.”
My hand swept over my passenger seat as I eked closer to the parking garage. Still no badge. Now I was almost at the entrance.
Grrrr.
2/
In a split second, I needed to make a decision:
1. Pull up and be the person who holds the entire garage line up while calling security?
2. Pull over and scour my car for this wayward access badge?
Both options were equally annoying to me (though option 1 is more selfish.)
In a split second, I needed to make a decision:
1. Pull up and be the person who holds the entire garage line up while calling security?
2. Pull over and scour my car for this wayward access badge?
Both options were equally annoying to me (though option 1 is more selfish.)
3/
But then I was reminded that there was a third option.
You.
It was a Thursday—my busiest clinic day—but, like clockwork, you were there. Like all the other Thursdays.
You held up one hand in my direction and said what you always say.
You: “Hey there, doc!”
But then I was reminded that there was a third option.
You.
It was a Thursday—my busiest clinic day—but, like clockwork, you were there. Like all the other Thursdays.
You held up one hand in my direction and said what you always say.
You: “Hey there, doc!”
4/
I rolled down my window and said what I always say in return:
Me: “Hey there, friend. What you know good?”
You: “I don’t know nothin’!”
Usually, a small exchange follows if the line of cars isn’t too long. Like you telling me the lot is almost full.
Or.
I rolled down my window and said what I always say in return:
Me: “Hey there, friend. What you know good?”
You: “I don’t know nothin’!”
Usually, a small exchange follows if the line of cars isn’t too long. Like you telling me the lot is almost full.
Or.
5/
On some days, you kindly hooking me up with a special parking space.
Because we cool like that.
Me: “Friend, I can’t find my badge. I know it’s in here somewhere.”
And you smiled your easy smile and said what I knew you’d say.
You: “I got you, doc.”
Yup.
On some days, you kindly hooking me up with a special parking space.
Because we cool like that.
Me: “Friend, I can’t find my badge. I know it’s in here somewhere.”
And you smiled your easy smile and said what I knew you’d say.
You: “I got you, doc.”
Yup.
6/
You leaned over and tapped your security officer badge to the pad and the arm flew open.
Me: “I so appreciate you.”
I punctuated that with your name. Your name that I know because I asked you years ago when we first met.
And that I intentionally registered.
You leaned over and tapped your security officer badge to the pad and the arm flew open.
Me: “I so appreciate you.”
I punctuated that with your name. Your name that I know because I asked you years ago when we first met.
And that I intentionally registered.
7/
You: “Manning, you know I always got you, doc.”
And that was it.
You represent one of favorite things about Grady Hospital—and about life even. These tiny interactions—many of them brief and seemingly mundane—that sustain us every day.
If we let them.
You: “Manning, you know I always got you, doc.”
And that was it.
You represent one of favorite things about Grady Hospital—and about life even. These tiny interactions—many of them brief and seemingly mundane—that sustain us every day.
If we let them.
8/
I recently learned about the sociology behind “weak ties”—that is, our connections to those who are in our lives as acquaintances but not our closest comrades. Though relationally they aren’t the “strong ties” like our family and longstanding friends, they are important.
Yup.
I recently learned about the sociology behind “weak ties”—that is, our connections to those who are in our lives as acquaintances but not our closest comrades. Though relationally they aren’t the “strong ties” like our family and longstanding friends, they are important.
Yup.
9/
Even though I hadn’t gone down a sociology rabbit hole on this before, I think I inherently knew that this was something essential to my well-being.
But.
All doubt was removed when the pandemic first pulled us into our strong tie bubbles.
I missed you.
Even though I hadn’t gone down a sociology rabbit hole on this before, I think I inherently knew that this was something essential to my well-being.
But.
All doubt was removed when the pandemic first pulled us into our strong tie bubbles.
I missed you.
10/
And by “you” I do mean you our daily parking garage exchanges but also the many others like you who’ve become so integral to the fabric of my life.
One tiny exchange at a time.
And so. I found myself thinking of this in the last few days—the importance of “weak ties.”
And by “you” I do mean you our daily parking garage exchanges but also the many others like you who’ve become so integral to the fabric of my life.
One tiny exchange at a time.
And so. I found myself thinking of this in the last few days—the importance of “weak ties.”
11/
Especially in the context of the threat of a Twitter implosion, I registered how much I’d miss those who’ve metaphorically badged me in one post at a time.
Sigh.
That made me kind of sad. But then I said what I say to my kids all the time:
“Let’s do today today, okay?”
Especially in the context of the threat of a Twitter implosion, I registered how much I’d miss those who’ve metaphorically badged me in one post at a time.
Sigh.
That made me kind of sad. But then I said what I say to my kids all the time:
“Let’s do today today, okay?”
12/
So today, I’m thinking of these ties we’ve weaved together here. And how cool it’s been to watch it all become this beautiful quilt so organically.
Yup.
And the exciting piece is knowing that some these weak ties have evolved to strong ones. Or those I strongly value.
So today, I’m thinking of these ties we’ve weaved together here. And how cool it’s been to watch it all become this beautiful quilt so organically.
Yup.
And the exciting piece is knowing that some these weak ties have evolved to strong ones. Or those I strongly value.
13/
When I left Grady that day, you were still there. But this time, like always, you were sitting on your security golf cart.
You: “You find it, doc?”
Me: “Yup, friend. Under the seat.”
You: “Okay. You here this weekend?”
Me: “Yup. You?”
You: “I’m here Sunday.”
Me: “Cool.”
When I left Grady that day, you were still there. But this time, like always, you were sitting on your security golf cart.
You: “You find it, doc?”
Me: “Yup, friend. Under the seat.”
You: “Okay. You here this weekend?”
Me: “Yup. You?”
You: “I’m here Sunday.”
Me: “Cool.”
14/
And I said “cool” because that meant I’d get to see you. And also that, on Sundays, you always, always save me a parking space on the ground level.
Because we cool like that.
So . . . how do you do with weak ties?
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hid… https://t.co/UHJ9EF8HUw
And I said “cool” because that meant I’d get to see you. And also that, on Sundays, you always, always save me a parking space on the ground level.
Because we cool like that.
So . . . how do you do with weak ties?
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hid… https://t.co/UHJ9EF8HUw
15/
Do you notice them? Open yourself up to them?
Do you register faces and names? Pause to show people you see them?
Either way, consider adding a layer of intention to those tiny interactions, okay? It could be the very panacea needed when burnout threatens you most.
Yup.
Do you notice them? Open yourself up to them?
Do you register faces and names? Pause to show people you see them?
Either way, consider adding a layer of intention to those tiny interactions, okay? It could be the very panacea needed when burnout threatens you most.
Yup.
16/
15/
Stop.
Look.
Listen.
Register.
Reflect.
Not just the strong ties but the weak ties, too. You won’t be sorry.
And who knows? It just might save you from circling the block trying to find street parking on a busy clinic day.
Yup.
Thanks, You.☺️👊🏽
#humanismalways 💛
15/
Stop.
Look.
Listen.
Register.
Reflect.
Not just the strong ties but the weak ties, too. You won’t be sorry.
And who knows? It just might save you from circling the block trying to find street parking on a busy clinic day.
Yup.
Thanks, You.☺️👊🏽
#humanismalways 💛
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