Chance Encounters, Power of Hello, Caught in the Candy Jar.

Good Morning from storm recovering Prince Edward Island,

Old man winter arrived to remind us that we shouldn’t get too snug or smug and take all our comforts for granted.

With over 40,000 thousand homes and businesses without power on Prince Edward Island this past Wednesday and part of Thursday, the reminder was delivered.

Did you receive the message?

Comfort is a box. Time to make the box bigger.

"Advice is like the snow. The softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon and the deeper it sinks into the mind.”  - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

This morning, I write this at 6 am sitting in a Starbucks having a breakfast tea and watching the video below.

William Cromartie is a BART station agent who finds meaning through the simple act of saying hello.

His story hits home for me on a number of levels.

I hope you enjoy the video.

Every year I have the honour of meeting thousands of people from all over the world, some hug me and I them, some shake my hand and I theirs, some write me and me them.

As a shopkeep, it is funny the things I notice.

Storytime.

In mid-summer, while in full stride and bounding towards the front of our building.

I noticed a mom and her two children with three ice cream cones, all different flavours.

Smiles were present and joy was evident.

I was in a rush but had the instinct to say, “welcome, be sure to take the children down to see our miniature donkey Cisco”.

The mother and I locked eyes for two seconds while she replied, “yes, thank we are on our way there now”.

Leaving them to be on their way I remember thinking while still in full stride up the stairs to the shop, what a genuine and alive person she seemed to be.

Once in the building, I realized a full minute later, “hey that was Sophie Trudeau”.

Television personality, activist, mother, and wife to Canada’s Prime Minister, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau discusses in the following interview her battle with eating disorders, why nature and art play such a huge role in her life, and what unites us as people.

While driving to Halifax yesterday, we listened to the interview and it reminded me of the chance encounter this summer.

Shane Parrish of Ottawa, an ex-spy has created Farnham Street and The Knowledge Project Podcast. His interview is worth listening to, if you do not have the time to do so, the transcript is here as well. 

Authenticity, Kindness, and Self Love: My Conversation with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

Before I go, I wish to take care of our business.

Check out our new line of Natural Candy. I love this photo of our friend's son reaching into the candy jar while the photo shoot was going on. 

While sitting in Starbucks, I put on my noise cancelling headphones and listened to a playlist of Choral music.

These classical vocal compositions bring a sense of peace. Listen here. 

Hope you have a great weekend! 

With love from Halifax today,

Bruce

p.s.

A lady lost her handbag at the mall. An honest young lad found it and returned it to her.

Looking in her purse, she said, "Hmm, that's funny. When I lost my bag, there was a $20 bill in it. Now there are twenty $1 bills."

The boy replied, "That IS funny. The last time I found a lady's purse, she didn't have any change for a reward."