Keeping It Real

I find myself seeking out moments of genuine humanity. They happen all around me, but sometimes I miss them. I am distracted by the shallow, the petty and sometimes the perverse. But it is my choice which gets my attention, and I choose to focus on the side of humanity which most resembles the glorious.

At the Market there are opportunities for both. In a place where a community gathers and the diversity of backgrounds and beliefs is so vast, I have seen the best and the worst, but the best does prevail. At least, this is my focus of choice.

I myself have been the recipient of so much of the "best." I have enjoyed unsolicited letters and notes of encouragement and praise which have fueled both my personal and professional fire. I am always humbled and grateful. I have been helped when it was unexpected and given aid when overwhelmed. I have also received the gift of a discount on product or been given product when I had expected to pay. These are the people of this Market.

It has also been my delight to observe vendor to vendor acts of kindness. These moments don't really surprise me, but they do take me to a place of personal pride. Pride in this place. Pride in these people. Again, gratitude to have the opportunity to be a part of this community where people do genuinely care for one another, and they demonstrate it daily.

Focus on the glorious!

Welcome to the ACFM Blog!

The American Countryside Farmers Market is all about bringing people together. Every weekend I see people sitting down over a meal, laughing and talking...or happily sharing a great discovery at one of our artisans' booths.

I experienced this lovely phenomenon first hand recently. Last week I was called down from my office on the second floor to the Welcome Center in the Food Court because there was a couple who needed some help. When I arrived I was delighted to meet a lovely older couple who were eagerly wanting to purchase an item from one of our first floor vendors. They were actually helped before I got there and having had their goal accomplished, they were happy to spend some time with me.

I noticed right off their charming accents, and I encouraged them to talk with me so I could enjoy the full tantilizing lilt of their speech. They obliged me without hesitation. My first question to most of our guests, especially those with charming accents, is always, "Where are you from?" When this couple told me they were from Plymouth, England, ("where the Pilgrims sailed from!") my curiosity was even more piqued and the second question, of course, was, "How did you find out about the Market?"

They explained to me that they had taken a month off from their jobs and had come to the States, rented an RV and were seeing our beautiful country. They were camping at a campground east of South Bend and had picked up one of our brochures. (Yay! Marketing does work!)

The day before they had spent the day in Chicago, and the "mum" exclaimed over how they loved the city and how clean it was. When I expressed a desire to visit London, she said, "Oh, you'd be disappointed. It's not nearly as clean." I explained to her that I was raised in and had lived most of my life in the Chicago suburbs and knew of some areas she would find "not nearly as clean" as well. I told her that my desire to see London had to do with the history and the antiquity of the city...something we don't have here in this country. I also expressed an envy over their ability to take a month off and travel another country. They encouraged me to try it!

We probably spent only 15 minutes together, but we connected. I almost expected them to invite me to come visit them when I finally make it to England. If they had, I would have accepted! Imagine! - a bit of tea in jolly old England!

My days are primarily full of deadlines, phone calls, meetings, and the usual marketing concerns. This chance encounter with some people from "across the pond" made my day and made me smile. Where else could this happen? You just never know who you might meet and how they might inspire your life. Every day is an adventure when there are people connecting!

See you at the Market! It's so much more than just a Farmers Market!