Storytelling and Hidden Impact

This issue of Reflections by Anthony Sledge begins with me walking towards the Hoboken Transit Terminal on my way to hop on the train to Bergen County to meet up with members of a new mastermind group.?

It was a bone-chilling 12 degrees outside, and due to the wind conditions, it felt like -2 degrees! ??

So as you would expect, I was speed walking, rushing to the station's waiting room to get inside for some much-needed heat!

Before rushing inside the terminal to warm up and patiently wait for the train, I made a quick stop at the electronic schedule monitor to confirm that the Bergen County train was running on time.

After double confirming my train was still on schedule, I went inside Warrington Plaza to pass the time.

While waiting in the plaza, I purchased a hot Americano and sesame seed bagel, toasted with light butter from Dunkin to satisfy my appetite.

Immediately after taking a couple of sips of my espresso and a bite of my toasted bagel, I started reflecting on something I was pondering yesterday evening, the power of Storytelling and the Hidden Impact that sharing your unique experiences can have on others.

In the context of this article, my thoughts center around the idea of sharing portions of my journal entries on social platforms like LinkedIn to inspire.

More specifically, sharing portions of my journal entries when my inner voice encourages me to do so. Then, trusting that the underlying message of my story will find its way to the people, or better yet, that one person on the planet that needs to receive it!

In large part, that's the reason why I share on this platform.?

With thoughts of kindness and profound human connection flowing in abundance in my head as I watched a NY Waterway Taxi cruise into the dock, I suddenly felt a strong desire to go back outside in the wicked cold for a quick stroll alongside the river.

Note: I just had to weave in the word "wicked" into this story after seeing the below image.

A superb Broadway Musical, I also must add. ??

The next thing I knew, I was strolling alongside the Hudson, deliberately allowing my thoughts to finish crystallizing and then typing them into my journal app before they drifted away.

Friends, six minutes into my walk, I found myself standing behind a lady on the pier who was looking across the river, watching the sun beginning to rise over New York City.

As I stood behind her, fully submerged within this moment, I naturally began to appreciate the relaxing sounds of the waves splashing up against the boardwalk railing and edge of the pier, which led to a feeling of serenity washing all over my soul.

With a tremendous feeling of calmness inside, I eased over to the closest seating area, and while in the act of doing so, the woman nearby must have felt my presence because she turned around slowly, made eye contact with me, and gave me a friendly smile.

Of course, I reciprocated, and she quickly countered by moving her left hand gently across her face to brush away some of her long jet-black hair and then winked at me as if she was flirting.

A friend who was jogging in the vicinity suddenly appeared, disrupting my flow, and he decided to pause his run to chat for a few minutes. Lol!

With only 15 minutes to go before my train was due to arrive, I started making my way back to the terminal to avoid missing my ride.

Along the way, I made a brief stop in the big open field shown below to allow myself time to admire a lovely view of some birds having breakfast.

While in the middle of enjoying this peaceful moment, out of nowhere, one of those beautiful creatures came gliding in from the sky, and I watched in amazement as nature treated me to the sight of a bird making a picture-perfect landing on the grass right in front of me. Love it!

Seconds after witnessing what I can only describe as a "take your breath away moment," I bolted over to the rail terminal to catch my train!

All aboard!

Closing Thoughts

The inspiration behind this story derived from a random message I received via my LinkedIn account over the holidays from a connection I've never met before.

Without sharing all of the details, she's going through a challenging stretch in your journey, and her message moved me, almost bringing me to tears; indeed, a Christmas gift that I will never forget!

Because my inner voice just suggested I do so, I will be a bit vulnerable right now while sitting on this bench below and share a portion of the email I received over the holidays, which deeply touched my heart.???

Below is a snippet of the email, which I am paraphrasing as not to divulge any personal information.

"Anthony, many thanks for sharing your inspiring posts and photos. I am going through a challenging stretch on my journey; however, I still feel blessed. With that said, I find inspiration and comfort in your words and photos. You are truly making a difference. Thank you!"

Friends, I share this experience because each and every one of us can make a meaningful impact on others and society at large.

Whether you uplift someone's spirits unknowingly or knowingly doesn't matter; just as long as you use your gifts, talents, and communication vehicles available to you to spread love and kindness is what truly matters.

And with that, I will end this article with a question for you to ponder over the weekend.

• How are you using your voice to help and inspire others without expectations?

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Lastly, message my LinkedIn email account if you would like to get information on my keynote.?