Little Treasures #14
A collection of glimmers and gold dust for some extra weekend sparkle!
Making Connections: Hearts & Flights
Return To Routine……almost!
Wow! It’s been a month full of adventures! There’s been a trip to Nashville for soccer with my eldest son, my youngest son living his best life with a week away at Summer Camp, a Corbin Family staycation here in NTX, and work trips to Philadelphia and New Orleans, all packed into the last four weeks.
It makes me feel giddy just typing that! And it’s been an absolute blast!
In Nashville, outside of all the soccer fun, we got to spend time in the beautiful town of Franklin, visit a couple of fabulous bookshops, including Parnassus Books, and watch a Club World Cup game - it was all of our favorite things wrapped up with a bow in just five days!
At Summer Camp for OC this year, there was fishing for the first time ever! As soon as we picked him up, his first question was whether we’d booked him in for next year. It truly is his absolute favorite week of the year.
And then, on our staycation, we made time for hiking adventures, a little bit of golf, and plenty of chilled time at Corbin Towers. The opportunity to reconnect with each other and embrace a slightly slower pace of life (if that’s possible with two super active teen-ish boys!) was such a beautiful thing.
Our traditional family holiday board game tournament took place, and although I got off to a flying start, it was CC who ultimately beat all of us to win the title! A slightly better showing in “Ticket To Ride” for me, and it could have been a different story! (Note to self - the longest route isn’t always the best route) And yet, still I wonder where my boys get their uber-competitive spirit from.
Reflecting on this splendid period, the biggest thing I’ve taken away has been the huge power of human connection.
In the words of the brilliant Brene Brown:
“Connection is why we’re here; it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”
We live in an age of speed and convenience, where hustle, grind, efficiency, and productivity are all lauded. But what I’ve loved most about these last few weeks has been that opportunity to slow down a bit. Where our #1 priority as a family, particularly on our staycation, has been to spend time with each other, to rest and recharge, to laugh and to celebrate what makes us, us.
Not only that, but also to take the time to get curious about the people we meet along the way. And that’s what CC and I did when we visited Monells restaurant in Nashville during our time there.
What an experience! Amazing Southern food, which reminded me of Thanksgiving, served with all the trimmings I know and love - including the best side ever - corn pudding!
And the best bit? It’s all served family style on big tables where you sit and feast with folks from all over the world who’ve come for a taste of the fare and that experience, WITH NO PHONES ALLOWED! It was such an amazing reminder of the art of conversation, of hearing travellers’ tales and celebrating the joy of connection.. If you ever find yourself in Nashville, it comes HIGHLY recommended.
Coming back to work this week, travelling to New Orleans, that same theme of connection popped up. I think I’ve mentioned before that I often feel like quotes and books follow me when the universe wants me to notice something, and this thread has a very similar feel!
Needless to say, I spent more time than I’d hoped at DFW airport on Tuesday this week trying to get in the air. In the end, my journey resulted in 90 minutes on a plane that never left the tarmac, a visit to 3 of DFW’s terminals as the gate number continuously changed, including once when I was mid-way to the one I thought I needed to be at. Ultimately, the day ended with a cancelled flight that saw me come back home and then return to the airport to give it another try the next day, when I did finally make it!
What I found so interesting was how we passengers created connections as we worked through that occasionally frustrating experience together. There were folks from a variety of walks of life and locations, all trying to get to the same place for their own important reasons. And our shared experience transcended all that made us different.
There was an unexpected sense of humor to be felt as it got later and later, and our phones pinged with yet another gate change. There was a sense of collective resignation as our incoming plane finally arrived at the gate 4 hours later than planned, and then as the black Texas storm clouds rolled in, “Flight Cancelled” popped up on the airport screens.
It’s reminded me that part of the power of community is that it makes us more likely to find strength in adversity, because we’re all in it together, and that by sticking together, we can support each other through that shared experience. It’s a topic that Bruce Daisley explores in his book, “Fortitude,” which is a great read if you’re looking to add to your reading list and do a deeper dive.
I got delayed again on my flight home and saw the very same thing happen. I loved the conversations I had with so many folks who were embracing the fact that the situation was completely out of their control and finding ways to make the most of that extra airport time.
I took it as a fortuitous opportunity to lap up some more of Oliver Burkeman’s book “Four Thousand Weeks” whilst I had the chance, and that made it time incredibly well spent!
And so, as we begin a slow return to routine here at Corbin Towers (still a month to go until “Back To School”), I’m going to make it my mission to focus on the art of connection in the months ahead. Making that call, sending the message to the friend that pops into your head out of the blue, asking the question, saying yes to getting together, because it’s an integral part of what makes us human.
And it’s what makes this life such a beautiful thing!
This Week’s Word
I wanted to find a word that would bring another layer to my reflections on connection this morning, and loved it when I stumbled across “concinnity,” which hasn’t crossed my path before.
That sense that there’s an inherent beauty in bringing things together feels so compelling, be it people, ideas, or creating or building something greater than the sum of its parts.
It reminded me of the fable of the three bricklayers working on St Paul’s Cathedral in London. When the architect, Christopher Wren, asked what they were doing, the first said he was laying bricks, the second that he was building a wall, and the third that he was building a cathedral. It’s amazing how shifting our perspective can change the way we perceive the value of our actions and our sense of purpose.
It’s also got me thinking about jigsaws and Lego, both of which played a huge part in my childhood and a tradition that’s continued with the boys. And I can’t quite believe we didn’t get round to a staycation jigsaw puzzle this time around. I’ll have to make sure we do two at Christmas instead this year!
I’m also committing to creating a gallery in my office of all the entries to “This Week’s Word” in Little Treasures before the year is out. Hold me to that and I’ll share a photo once it’s up.
And if you have a favorite underused word you’d like to add to my collection and see featured here, I’d love to hear from you! Just click the button below!
This Week’s Book Recommendations
This week’s books are those that I picked up either right before or during my travels, which I’ve excitedly added to my TBR pile. I keep telling myself that I’m not allowed to buy another one before I finish those I have, but my willpower is failing me, especially when I find myself in a bricks and mortar book shop!
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was recommended to me by a work colleague who has a similar penchant for reading. It’s another foray into fiction for me, and he had nothing but good things to say about it, so I’m looking forward to giving it my full attention later this Summer!
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, which I picked up in Parnassus Books when we were in Nashville. It felt like a super apt purchase for the occasion. As soon as that lottery windfall comes, I’m opening a bookshop - hopefully, this will give me some top tips and ideas.
Reflection Corner….
“Reflection Corner” this week is centered on the theme of creating and nurturing connections, with thanks to Chat GPT for being my thinking partner!
“How might you invite a little more connection into your journey right now?”
Consider:
Who might you gently reach out to this week?
What small act could show someone they matter?
How might you create space for a real, present conversation?
Pull up a chair, your favorite pen, and notebook, and enjoy a moment of peaceful reflection!
Little things that brought added sparkle to my week…..
As it’s been a while since we last connected, I’m expanding the scope this week to things that have made my heart sing since the last edition of Little Treasures hit your inbox. There have been so many to choose from, some of which I wrote about in my opening, like our little trip to Parnassus Books, but outside of that, here are my Top 3:
Being immersed in nature on our holiday hike! As part of our staycation plans, and a determined effort to spend more time in nature, we bought a membership for the US National Parks. That led us to a gorgeous walk up at Ray Roberts Lake - not too far away from where we live and on a day when the TX July temperatures were kinder than expected. It also allowed me to get my Merlin app out and check out the local birds, and what a treasure trove of new feathered friends I found! Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher all popped up. I didn’t see them, but I heard them, and their calls were glorious! A joyful moment of family time indeed!
Getting my first ever set of golf clubs! If you follow me on LinkedIn, you might have seen that I finally crossed this milestone almost 20 years later than planned. Mr. C is a pretty proficient golfer, and the boys are super keen to learn, which left me as the weakest link! And 20 years ago, a dear and much missed friend and I talked about getting lessons, and I totally failed to follow through. So now, it’s time to embrace a beginner’s mindset and give it a shot. Wish me luck!
Watching a Club World Cup game with CC whilst we were in Nashville. We saw LAFC play Esperance from Tunisia, and the atmosphere in the stadium created by the visiting Tunisian fans was electrifying! I think CC would have stayed all night, given half the chance! Not only that, we were super close to the action and had the chance to see Hugo Lloris, former captain of CC’s beloved Spurs, in close-up action in goal. It was an amazing experience, and I’m so glad we took the opportunity to go along!
Thank You, Dear Reader!
And with all that said…..
Thanks so much for reading “Little Treasures” this week. If you’ve enjoyed it, please share it with your friends.
Ultimately, I’m a creature of habit. After some fabulous holiday adventures over the last few weeks, I’m looking forward to a return to those glorious slow Saturday mornings (until the soccer season starts, at least) and hitting your inbox more regularly again!
Sparkle & Shine!
Lynds
A little bit about me….
I’m Lynds Corbin - a commercial capabilities change-maker, coach, mentor, eternal optimist, book lover, Olympic-level tea drinker, and sideline-loving soccer mum.
I write about the joy that comes from the little treasures that show up in our lives every single day.
You can follow me on LinkedIn HERE if you’d like to.