Today's connected world supports reaching out and touching anyone at anytime. We can leave messages that will be seen as soon as the recipient opens their eyes to start the day. We can post pictures that document the joys in our lives to our closest 500+ friends. All this connectedness and loneliness is more rampant than ever. Your buried in your screen and I have my earbuds in; it is a social taboo to break into the bubble. We can choose to do the uncomfortable and take a risk to pop the bubble. This is an opportunity to cross lines of culture, age, gender and any other barriers that we put up to insulate ourselves from each other. Those around us give us a chance to make these generous connections through an encouraging word, a smile or a helping hand. These connections can be through our business by taking the extra step to exceed our customers expectations, our neighbor by returning the lawnmower full of gas or extending yourself for the local school board. The good news is that this mindset is a skill that can be learned. If you do not normally jump at the chance to bless those around you with this connectedness, it is only a decision away. The opportunities are all too plentiful, you just have to look then act. Go change a life with a generous connection.

Where can you extend yourself to make generous connections? Who immediately comes to mind? How do you define generous connections? Who do you know that epitomizes this characteristic? What holds you back from extending yourself? What is one step you can take this week to challenge yourself to connect with those around you?