I used to play guitar and sing in a band. Sometimes, loading our equipment out at the end of the night — when the cigarette smoke drifted in the overheads and everyone’s shoes were sticking to the floor — I’d watch the last tipsy people laughing and trailing out into the night, and I’d wonder about the random events that had brought us together.

Our connections are so fragile. They’re forged from crazy synchronicities. It all matters. Someone’s grandparents meet on ship, share a kiss, and decide to make a new life together in a new land. Because of this, 75 years later, a young girl wanders into a bar — where I happen to be playing guitar.

I want to stay awake for my life. I want to notice the never-ending, unfolding offerings that come my way. My commitment to myself is to bring kindness, care, and humor to all that I do. If you’ll let me, stranger, I’ll bring the same mindfulness to your creative projects.