Communications Pro Blog

My good friend and mentor, Karen Horowitz calls the kind of day I had today ‘a magical day.’ Some days are like that. You connect in person with people, and horses and animals.

It is a Tuesday…and despite it being a ‘work day’ I slept in. After reading the paper and doing some e-mails, it was off to the Whitemarsh Business Association, where my business partner in speech coaching, D. Mike Smith, and I connected with 30 or so individuals on a number of levels.

We gave a networking talk that was a bit different, I suspect, from the rest. It had to do with asking individuals what they needed and also tried to get to their Sparkle Spot. I credit Neen James, an Australian women who spoke recently at the Main Line Chamber’s Society of Professional Women lunch about networking and finding out what the person you are networking with is impassioned about. It could be cooking or horse back riding or dogs or kids or none of the above. I thought James was brilliant in trying to get folks to identify someone’s ‘Sparkle Spot’ instead of going with the ‘What’s In It For Me’ attitude.

So here we were, 30 or so mostly small business owners, finding each others ‘Sparkle Spots’ and asking how we could help each other – instead of selling each other on our services. Indeed, it was magical.

From there I went to take a publicity photo for the local Rotary to help publicize their Hearts for Haiti fundraiser (February 24th at 5 pm at Scoogi’s in Flourtown).

As I listened to the storm predictions, I tried to figure out what to do with the rest of the afternoon. A good brisk walk was a priority, but first, a stop at Lee’s Produce in Conshohocken. For some, preparing for a storm means going out to the Acme for eggs, milk and bread. For me, it’s good quality produce and at an affordable price.

After having another friendly exchange with Cecilia at the checkout, I realized that it was getting dark and my need for walk would have to come next.

Just around the corner from Lee’s, I noticed St. Matthew’s Cemetery was freshly plowed and pulled in on a whim. It was a good gut instinct and the magic continued.

Initially I started my power walk, but something interesting happened after that first lap. I started reading the grave markers. I saw a marker with the birth and death dates for a 6-year old boy. Sadly, his parents birth dates were engraved, however, it appeared they were still alive because there was no death date. How sad and how beautiful- a Sparkle Spot of sorts.

Then I veered off of the blacktop to the newly dug grave of Agnes Scharff. The flowers were fresh and clearly she had been buried this same day. I said a prayer for her. Then I saw balloons and a freshly shoveled path to a grave in the center of the cemetery. It was clear the balloons had been left earlier in the day. So while so many were frantically out getting their salt and gearing up for a second storm, others were doing what they had to do – to remember their loved ones. There was a hand carved plaque on one of the graves with the following saying: “If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane…I’d walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again.” Sparkle Spot.

From there, I went to see Spot who is my ‘Sparkle Spot.’ Spot is a blind horse who has taught me so many lessons in terms of trust and living in the moment. I almost didn’t stop, because I was dressed in my business attire and I didn’t have treats for him. I dug deep in my jacket and pulled out a mint (horses love sugar and mints) and decided it was worth the effort – and to hell with the clothes –that is what dry cleaners are for.

So I stopped to ‘see’ my Sparkle Spot. I gave him the singular mint and whispered sweet nothings into his ear, and he whinnied and ate up the affection. Then I took him out of his stall and took his blanket off and groomed him from head to hoof. I continued to tell him what a special boy he was (and is – he’s nearly 30 and had been a lesson horse at Northwestern Stables for years, before he lost his sight.) I also told him I was sorry I didn’t have more treats for him. That is when a young girl, grooming her horse heard me and offered that she had a spare apple in the tack room–manna from heaven. I could have and should have kissed her. Instead, I grabbed the apple and kissed Spot – all over his head and mane. He lavished in his treat. It was a magical moment.

When I got home, I opened the mail and found our annual Valentine’s Day card from our dear friends from Marblehead, Massachusetts. I thought it was too early for it to arrive, but opened it anyway. Inside, was not only their special Valentine greeting, but 10 more cards to “pass it on” or “play it on” to others. Wow. What a gift. Inspired by them, I had sat down over the weekend storm to develop some handmade Valentine’s Day cards, but realized I had fallen short. So now I had a new stash at my disposal to give to family and friends. What a novel idea.

As the day ends, I am preparing for Storm II by putting together yet another crock pot full of odds and ends to make into s sumptuous soup. My husband, Brad, will plow out the neighbors tomorrow and I will follow him with salt and soup helping out elderly neighbors. Indeed, a magical snow fell with glimmering sparkle spots to warm the soul.

Barbara Sherf is a speech coach, publicist and writer. You can reach her at Barb@CommunicationsPro.com or call 215-233-8022.

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