If you don't know about Alma let me paint a picture for you. It is a small village in South-Central Ontario with one main corner. It's a place you can easily miss if you blink as you drive through.
However, there is a restaurant in town called Marj's Village Kitchen that is somewhat famous around these parts for it's home cooking. It is a rustic little spot and it was surprisingly jammed packed when I arrived at 2pm for a late lunch last Friday.
I sat at the counter because all of the tables were full. I observed the hustle and bustle of the staff serving up large platters of home cooked goodness, mugs of hot coffee, slices of freshly baked pie and a ton of good feelings.
This isn't really a restaurant review so I'll cut to the chase on this Sunday morning and let you sit with a question.
I was transformed by Alma and the experience of Marj's Village Kitchen.
When I walked into their restaurant I was transported to a physical and emotional space swirling with comfortable, warm, nostalgic feelings. It felt like home, even though I was a stranger just passing through.
Their slogan says it all: 'Welcome when you're here. Missed when you're not!'.
I'm a fan for life. When I left Marj's I felt a bit heavier in my belly and a lot warmer in my soul. I stopped to take the picture of the Alma population sign because of the 'Population Growing' statement. It reinforced the optimistic feeling that enveloped me as I drove home that sunny fall afternoon.
Here is a Sunday Reflection for you to ponder.
Visualize the experience people have with you and how they are transformed as a result of who you are. This is a powerful technique to recharge your self-esteem and get clarity about the value you provide for people.
Start by picturing someone important to you (your spouse, your boss, a colleague, a client etc.). Then imagine they are transported into a space where YOU feel the most alive and at peace with yourself.
This is a place where you feel very powerful and your vision of what you are here to do in the world is crystal clear. It is also a space that allows you to express and share the greatest gifts you are here to offer others. You have no hesitation or fear in this space.
Look around the space.
What do you notice? What do you see, smell and hear? How does the space feel? What are you wearing? What are you doing? How are you feeling?
Now visualize your person arriving. You meet them with your heart wide open. Notice how they are carrying themselves. You can read their mind. What is on their mind? What concerns are weighing heavy for them? What are they excited about? What do they secretly crave more than anything else? What do they wish you would do for them that others have not been able to offer?
Imagine yourself at your best. Saying and doing whatever it is you do to deliver the greatest gift you are here to offer. What would you do? What would you say? What would they be doing and saying?
Visualize the transformation that occurs and how they are carrying themselves as they leave your space. What do you say as a send off to sum up what you are about and the gift they have just received? What might your slogan be? Imagine what they are thinking and feeling as they head back to the reality of their lives.
Let this experience bubble inside and see what pops up for you today. Feel free to share your experience on the blog.
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