What Connects Us?

What is it that connects you to a person?

The older I get the more I realize how little it has to do with age, race, religion, etc. I think when you have a real connection to a person, it's something so much deeper than any of those things. It's something you can't put your finger on. The less it makes sense on paper, the better.

It's easy to feel connected to someone when you're the same age, go to the same church, grew up with similar families and so on. I'm not saying that isn't real connection but I'd definitely seems a lot more like similar interests, which can grow into connection.

You can't make up real connection. I think that's the beautiful thing about it - It's a mystery. It doesn't always make sense. You can't label it and call it any one specific thing...I have a lot of people like this in my life throughIVY and other parts of my life. Here are a few...

Some kids I met on a trip I was on in the middle of the jungle in Laos. I will never forget these kids. They lived in the most remote village I have ever been to and were the poorest of the poor, yet had a joy that I'd never experienced before. Immediate connection with these kids.

This is my friend Kadreen. On paper Kadreen and I have nearly nothing in common, but in this beautiful adventure called life, she is one of my favorite people in the world and I would do literally anything for her. Love the friendship I have with this girl.

This guys name is Chris Koch. I met Chris this winter in California and despite his physical condition, Chris is making change all over the world. He is a motivational speaker and also does races and marathons on his skateboard! WHAT? Incredibly inspiring human and I'm so happy and humbled that I got the chance to talk with him!

This is Sophia. I met her and her family down at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, and she loved my board. I don't know if I felt a connection to this tiny human, or if she was just too cute to resist. Either way, she took my board (and a little piece of my heart) home that day. Nothing better than seeing a Childs face light up at the sight of a longboard :)

This is my buddy Nathanael. Our connection may not be wildly out of the ordinary, but I am still incredibly grateful for it. Nate and I met about a year ago on an IVY trip, but really connected over this past winter when we were both in a kind of funny part of life. This dude walked through some tough things with me and has made a bigger impact than he will probably ever know. Really really thankful for this dude. 

Most of the people mentioned here are people I've met through IVY. I am really grateful to be a part of something so much bigger than myself that is about connection and promotes belonging, adventure, risk and saying yes.

I'm really really thankful for connection that I can't explain.

Here's to many many more! 

-Steve