A Comment. A Story. A Book. And an Aha.
Photo Credit: Kris Tian
I’m a sucker for life’s tiny “Aha” moments. Those times when a teensy bell rings inside your noggin and you realize that, deep within your soul, the Universe is trying to tell you something. Trying to gently shake you by the shoulders. And, in the best of those moments, whisper to you, “Hey, it’s not that complicated. Relax. Pay attention and live in the present. Things are O.K.”
One of those experiences happened for me this past week as a result of three separate occurrences.
It all started with a friendly comment on my Facebook page. It came from a lifelong friend and business colleague of my dad’s, Rick. Rick’s from solid, kind, loyal Nebraska stock. I know him mostly through the stories my father shared about Rick and his family. But thanks to social media, Rick and I have stayed connected long after my dad has been gone. Not often. But often enough.
In Rick’s Facebook comment, he mentioned a book he had been reading titled “Theo of Golden.”
Always on the lookout for a good read, I made a mental note.
The second piece of my “Aha” puzzle was a Substack story I read by Liz Gumbinner. Liz and my respective world’s first aligned over a dozen years ago when we were both part of the first-comers in the parent blogging world. Liz in the moms’ arena. Me in the dads’. Her writing is top-notch and I’ve long marveled at not only her wisdom, but her ability to convey thoughts in a relatable, human way. That’s why I liked her story, “One Problem With AI That We’re Not Talking About Enough”, focusing on the impact AI can have on the way we relate with and connect to others. Liz’s perspective was a hit-the-nail-on-the-head observation for me. A complicated topic, for sure, but at least one aspect of it was boiled down in Liz’s story.
The third, and final part of my trifecta “Aha” gift tied back to the book Rick mentioned, “Theo of Golden.” I was able to get my hands on it and read it.
More accurately, I absorbed it.
“Theo of Golden” tells the story of an elderly man who shows up, unannounced and somewhat mysteriously, in the fictional town of Golden, Georgia. It’s a rather sweet story of this man’s yearlong adventure connecting him with a wide cast of the town’s characters including a bookseller, a musician, a janitor, an accountant – well, the list goes on and on. Chapter by chapter, Theo pulls out the stories hiding deep within these everyday folk, and, through a vast range of acts of kindness, becomes an important part of their lives, as well.
Coming from a small town, myself, “Theo” was a most believable story. I’ve seen real-life “Theos” firsthand. I’ve seen simple, everyday people reach out to help other simple, everyday people with simple, everyday acts of kindness – resulting in, at times, extraordinary results.
Which brings me to my “Aha” moment of my week all thanks to Rick, Liz and Theo.
We all need each other. (Maybe now more than ever).
Theo is a fictional character. But I like to believe a bit of him exists within each of us.
Life’s most meaningful moments are often tucked away in the nooks and crannies of our days.
When we pick up the phone.
When we ask a question.
When we show interest in one another.
When we laugh together. Or cry.
When we ask for advice.
Or ask for help.
Or simply recommend a book.
Jim Higley is the co-founder of Puffer Hug, a company whose mission is to connect the world with kindness, one hug at a time. Learn more about Puffer Hug here.