“Pick a card,” my daughter says. She holds the deck out, fanned between her hands. Gamely I pull one.
“Look at it. Don’t forget which one it is,” she instructs. “Now put it back.”
I place the card on top of a pile she holds out and watch as she shuffles them. A handful cards dealt onto the table in neat rows and then she flips one up. The card I had selected.
She asks with a straight face, “Is this your card?”
“What? Yes! How did you do that?” I answer, perplexed.
Magic tricks by my middle child aren’t new. She’s been fascinated by the art for years. In fact, she played magician at her younger sister’s birthday party last year, to the delight of the group of fourth-graders.
But this is the first time I’ve seen a trick so artfully done. So skillfully magical. And she owes it to two young friends.
Early last week we attended the same event as friends of ours. While we waited for it to start their twin boys, sixth-graders, demonstrated some card tricks for our girls. I’d been treated to their tricks earlier in the day, so I was pleased they had the chance to show my daughters. Because these boys are good. Very good. They could hire themselves out for parties.
And that’s all it took to get my seventh-grader hooked again. She went home and looked up card tricks. Selected a few. Began practicing them in her room. By the end of the week, she was ready for an audience.
That’s what I love about hanging out with other people, particularly other people who share our interests. That one-on-one, iron-sharpening-iron interaction can be a powerful motivator. The sparks generated by talking about a topic we enjoy or sharing tips on how to improve can ignite a fire in us that fuels our interest and propels us forward.
That’s why I invest every year in participating in an online team of fellow parenting journalists who “meet” virtually to share goals and frustrations, who pass along insights and tips, and who cheer each other’s successes and brainstorm paths around road blocks.
That’s why I meet up for face-to-face chats with other mom writers – informally and in organized writer’s groups.
That’s also why I spend time at a weekly mom’s coffee group in my neighborhood. It’s our version of the workplace water cooler. We talk shop on parenting and school issues. We swap recipes and names of electricians, babysitters, and yoga teachers. We spur each other on.
My daughter made more progress in developing her skills as a magician in the past week than she has at any other time. All because of fifteen minutes hanging out with two particular sixth-grade boys (who truly are amazing kids) who love magic even more than she does.
If you want to go farther faster in meeting a bucket list goal, spend time hanging out with people who have that same goal. Find an online group. Attend a class where you’ll meet people. Book time for coffee with a like-minded friend. You’ll be glad you did.
In the comments, share one person/type of person you’d like to hang out with more that shares an interest of yours.
