"Words to Thrive By" by Mary Anne Dorward

The true connections of our lives are often made in the strangest ways, in the most improbable circumstances and with the most exquisite people. On the one hand, deep connections can be built with people over a lifetime. But deep connections can also happen in an instant and with someone who, just a moment before, was a perfect stranger.

When I finished coaching the campaign of Battsetseg Shagdar, the first woman to ever ran for Parliament in Mongolia, she and her wonderful female colleagues gave me a beautiful, soft, yak wool shawl. I was very touched by their generosity especially since each woman working on the campaign – politicians, doctors, lawyers, media professionals – had ear saved the equivalent of a years salary to fulfill their dreams of obtaining the best American political consulting they could find for their campaign.

I use this beautiful shawl every day in my meditations and it keeps my body warm and cozy so that my spirit can fly free. But there is something else that happens to me every time I put that yak wool shawl over my shoulders. I immediately sense a feeling of deep gratitude for the brave hearts of these amazing Mongolian women and also our strong mutual connection of wanting to bring hope to the world. These feelings of connection, gratitude and hope come flooding into my heart every time I look at or feel the yak wool scarf on my body. These courageous Mongolian women and I remain connected to this very day.

Who do you feel deeply connected to and how did that story of that connection begin?