I have loved the saying and the belief of "Six Degrees of Separation." The theory being that we are only separated from anyone in the world by FIVE other people. This notion drives some people crazy, because they are trying So hard to find those FIVE people or believe it won't happen to them.
Several studies have actually been done on this theory including an Internet study that bears out this theory. And if you believe "It's a small world," the saying came from this theory. I have always believed that there are NO coincidences in life; you meet the people you are supposed to meet for a reason, you get the jobs you are supposed to get, you learn the experiences you need to learn (often with resistance until it gets through to you!).
I saw this example of Six Degrees in my daughter's life last year and sometimes it's magical. My daughter and I have always been "Oprah" fans. We find her shows uplifting and try our best to do things like "Pay if Forward" and help those less fortunate. My daughter, Laura, had been away at college for some time and while mostly enjoying it, she hadn't made any very special friends that were like her. She just wasn't as "in sync" with the people she was meeting but I kept encouraging her that her time would come.
She finally made a VERY good friend who she got along SO well with and truly enjoyed each other's company and loved to do the same things. A lovely girl named Araba who my daughter brought home with her on of her breaks from school. To be honest, I was as taken with this lovely girl as my daughter was....she was outgoing, fun, sweet and thoughtful and was too, at such a relatively young age, so in tune with the beliefs of "The Secret" (which of course wasn't out yet) that she and my daughter became fast friends.
She had told my daughter she wanted to visit her Aunt and asked Laura and two other friends if they wanted to go. Laura and she were in school in New Paltz and her Aunt lived in the city. The four of them headed off one beautiful afternoon to go to New York City; when they got there, two of the others said it was too nice out to spend the day inside and decided not to visit with Araba's Aunt. So she and Laura went alone.....
I think the thing that first caught my daughter (being an art student) were the colors that greeted her as the front door opened on the Upper East Side to this magnificent apartment. Before she had a chance to get over that, she realized who Araba's Aunt WAS---it was Maya Angelou. Laura said she had never felt such a presence before and had no idea that her good friends Aunt was anyone she might have known or heard of. She had lunch there and Ms. Angelou spoke of the value of friendship, of being kind to each other despite differences in thoughts or feelings, on learning to live without judgement against another for any reason. It was not only a good lesson for Laura to hear, it would have been a wonderful lesson for EVERYONE to hear! She then signed a copy of one of her books dedicated to my daughter and they eventually left.
The apartment, just as a side note, was five stories high and had an elevator. It also had the most vibrant colors Laura has EVER seen. I think it was the only question she was able to get out and Ms. Angelou replied that she LOVED the colors of fruit and had wanted her apartment to incorporate many different colors so she could be surrounded by what she loved. I wished I could have seen it...but who knows? We are all only Six Degrees.....from the job we want, that person we'd like to meet, the things we want to attract to us. That's not very many people, is it? It's a small world, after all and you may be closer to your dream then you're even realizing.
Carole,
Deep thought, great blog, thanks :)
Yes, Carole...I DO have my hands full with reciprocating......BUT I am having FUN doing it..your blog speaks powerfully to the "Golden Rule"..... Right on, woman!!
GREAT post, lady!!
=-D
Oh WOW Carole how wonderful for your daughter to not only have this experience but to have a wonderful MOM like you that kept encouraging her. Someone just sent me a beautiful poem for Ms. Angelou. Isn't that funny?? Now I read this blog, hmmm, not a coincidence. I need to go back and read that poem. It might have a message for me.
Phyllis Pafumi
Hey Carole,
You know that I think like you do...well not as well as you do, but I try! I think that you are an inspiration to many without knowing it...you have a unique way of looking at people and circumstances in this life and always address these things in the most positive way possible! You are very much 'in tune' with your fellow human beings, and that is a 'gift'!
I am so glad that we were destined to meet and become friends!
VAL :)
Hi Carole,
I'm Laura's friend, Mike (of Mike and Abby) that she has probably told you about. SHE IS AN AMAZING PERSON. I am blessed to know her! She always has a friend in me :) Great blog! I never heard this story until now. I also recite poetry with the slam poets up hear at New Paltz, so Maya has special significance with me.
Hi Carole,
Laura just sent me the piece you wrote, and I am sure I read it. It was very beautiful. How are you doing? It has been a while.
I wish you the very best!
Araba
Hi Carole - I went digging back & found this fantastic piece!!!!! What an amazing providential experience! There are just no words......
I liked that recent series, Six Degrees. I don't know what happened with it.
I'm needing that six degrees to come around in many ways!
Happy 4th!
Boy, this was an old post when I didn't know better then to at least thank everyone for the comments! So thank you all! Even lovely Araba came on to post a comment....
Deborah, if you are "needing" the six degrees, intentionally call these people in and it will happen. It never ceases to amaze me. There is an important part of Feng Shui that is a catalyst (in my opinion) for this and I have to find the time to blog about it. I have seen it in my life and my clients and STILL can't believe it....and it is called "Helpful People." Which leads you to the very Six people you are looking for... Thanks for finding this!
Thanks Carole! - I'm not sure what you mean by calling them in, but it sounds like what I'd want to do! I am familiar with the bagua sections, including the 'helpful people', but don'ty know what to do with it! Perhaps I need an overhaul of sorts - clean up & out ...& in!
I got an enquiry today on my site to write for a local Arts magazine! I'll find out more... later. But kind of exciting!
Rhonda, what an amazing experience for my daughter---and me when I heard. We did not know who Araba's Aunt was so my daughter just thought she was visiting a good friend's Aunt; she later said she had never felt such a "presence" from someone. I can believe it! (The questions I would have had, can you imagine?? :)
Deborah,I don't even know if I did a post on how to call Helpful People in.....I'm forgetting my own blogs :( But it appears you are doing it by connecting with the Arts Magazine. I'll have to recheck and see if I did any posts about it. In the meantime, keep me "posted" on what they had to say---wonderful news!!
Lizette, I loved this story too and I do believe it. We are never far from where we want to be and somehow manage to connect with those we are supposed to! What time is it in Kentucky, I don't know the time difference :)
Deborah, think of all the "Helpful People" you have in your life RIGHT NOW. The ones that would absolutely be there for you in a heartbeat. Those are the type of people you want to attract more of....I will put a post up soon, it sounds too easy to work (as most of my posts) but your INTENTION is to draw more of these people INTO your life; sounds like you're doing it!
That is so amazing. Your daughter is truly blessed to have met such an inspiring person. I'm so happy for her that it happened.
WOW that is awesome. What a great treat for your daughter...and a great reminder from you that we are only 6 degrees away from our hearts desire!
Chris, Even today she talks about it so vividly....her PRESENCE was the word she kept saying. It must have been amazing and I'm sure everyone would benefit from a lesson on friendship from her!
Rich, Thank you for your comment and Thanks to Deborah for "reviving it." Deborah is an inspiration herself! I just came from Karen's post and thank you for the link, I would love to be able to attend...I believe some people in Texas are going to be thrilled with this event. Since she lives part time in New York I hope she will do something similar here.
Kym, That was a wonderful experience for her, she had no idea who Araba's Aunt was--and what a shame that the other girls decided to skip it. What a lost opportunity.
Elaine, It is a wonderful reminder and I have always believed that! I have always wanted to meet Shirley Mac Laine because of her amazing experiences that many don't believe; I would love to be able to ask her questions. You never know.... :)
Bonnie, Thank you, it was wonderful of Deborah to bring it up again. Ms. Angelou spoke to them during lunch and spoke of the real meaning of friendship---can you imagine a better subject for her to have chosen? She's an amazing woman.
Debbie, Deborah has beautiful insights and we both love ART. I swear I'm going to get her to Paris with me one day :) I think that will turn out to be one of my daughter's most wonderful memories...
Hmm, Carole, You talkin' about me? Paris one day sounds marvelous! You know it's my dream to drive the south of France through Provence, along the Cote d'Azure to Italy & Tuscany. ahhh...
I've also begun to like the idea of a Eurail tour through Europe, I think ;)
The sun is shining - Spring is coming!