I think some of the absolute funniest, warmest moments that I remember were those moments that just came together, when someone said or did something funny or inventive and everyone added to the collective spontaneity. When you accept an invitation to a new place, or to a party or event, and something wonderful happens, it is very joyful. When you meet someone new and there is a strong bond, and you spontaneously embrace them, this fantastic exchange of energy and warm feelings is created and carried with you. The great thing is, you really dont now what will happen!! You just go with the flow in the present moment and let the next moment unfold. If you are open to people, they will respond to you in that same open manner. The great guides of the past worked very spontaneously as well. Jesus did not really plan his day, and he walked wherever he was led. If someone asked him for help he would leave what he was doing and go with him or her. I think Buddha, who was credited with great compassion, also worked in that same manner. The Dalai Lama is known to be very spontaneous. There is a fluidity about spontaneity that the great masters recognized. The moment is about now. What is occurring or about to occur happens now. You can decide the outcome by accepting the invitation, or turning it down, by embracing a stranger, or widening the gap, being fearless or fearful. Of course it is not appropriate to accept every invitation, or go off on every spontaneous adventure that comes along. But be open to that moment as it presents itself. I am comfortable being by myself, moving around by myself and talking to people. There were several times while I was attending school at USC in Los Angeles that I was enjoying something by myself and started a conversation with a stranger, and I was invited for a dinner or something that I really didnt expect but thought it would be enjoyable. So I spontaneously accepted. One time, at night, and I was walking around an outdoor fair in Westwood which is the home of UCLA, the major rival of USC. There were many merchants displaying their wares: jewelry, colorful scarves, ornamental boxes, animal statues, flags etc. I loved wild earrings at that time and I was at one booth going through all the long dangling earrings. I was holding each one up to my ear to see if it was just the right one. I came across this one that wasnt part of a matching pair. It was a battle-ax with a skull and a feather, in an antique silver color. I looked at this and thought to myself: now who would wear something like this earring?! I was holding it up and looking deeply at it still deciding that whoever would wore this would be into heavy metal or into some wild things. As I was standing there with this particular earring in my hand, an attractive guy with long blond shaggy hair and a beard, wearing a black leather vest, black leather pants, and black cowboy boots, moved next to me, and was also looking at the earrings. I started a conversation with him and showed him the earring. Hey, check this one out. Kind of wild isnt? He looked at it with admiration, and said, I think its kind of cool. Why dont you try it on? Its a little too heavy- metal for me. I think its for someone whos into some death and destruction. We laugh. Too wild for you, huh? I like heavy metal. Yeah, so if youre into heavy metal why dont you get it? It will look good with your hair. Oh, you think so? Why? Are you trying to say Im into death and destruction? We laugh a little. Hey, check this out. With that he pulls back his hair and reveals that he is already wearing the same earring. He was wearing it whole time. We start laughing. So you are into a little death and destruction, huh? With that his friend comes over to join him. He is a tall good-looking guy, also with long blond hair. He is taller and slimmer than his friend. He is wearing brown leather pants. He has a beautiful smile and comes over and joins our conversation. What are you two laughing about? I showed him the earring and I told him about what happened. He joined our laughing. It was obvious from some of their questions that they were both from out of town. We continued to look at the jewelry, showing each other great pieces, and talking and joking with each other. I asked them where they were from. They told me Florida, and then I asked them what they did. The taller and slimmer one answered me mysteriously We are in a small band from Florida. Oh really? You guys are in a band? Let me guess. Heavy metal? We all laugh. No no, we play a different style, very far from being metal heads. Kind of a Congo style with Maracas and Congo drums. Sounds nice. Do you tour? Or do you just play locally? No, we tour, thats why were here in Los Angeles. Oh really? What is the name of your band? Maybe I know it? He paused and put his hands into a prayer position in front of his mouth. He said, Miami Sound Machine. Have you heard of it? I started to smile and I raised my eyebrow and looked at him. Because the Miami Sound Machine, with the lead singer Gloria Estafan, was one of the biggest bands, on the charts at that time. Miami Sound Machine?! Yea, I think Ive heard of it!! Just a small band from Florida, huh?! We all start laughing at the joke. So what instruments do you play? The guy with the beard and mustache said that he played the drums, and the taller one said that he plays bass guitar. So is Gloria with you? I asked. No, shes back at the hotel resting. Are you guys pulling my leg?! No, if you want we could get you some tickets to a concert here in L.A. Oh great!! What are the dates that you are playing? He named the dates, but they were for days that I would be traveling back to Massachusetts. I thanked him, and just thought that would be all. But the taller bass guitar player asked me if I knew of a good place to have some dinner in Westwood. I began to point out some places, and started to say good-bye, and they both invited me to dinner with them. I was stunned at the invitation but I accepted. Shortly, other band members joined us and we sat and ate at a Tex-Mex restaurant. It was a lot of fun and we were laughing and joking. I had a fantastic time, and dinner with the Miami Sound Machine, because of spontaneity. There are many other wonderful memories I have from spontaneous meetings or events. Another time I was at a car wash in Los Angeles, and my car was filthy! I was standing in the viewing room as my car came through. The car in front of me was a BMW with both USC and MD noted on the plate. My car had a USC sticker on the car too. I was laughing because my car was so dirty and was making little comments about how my school is being poorly represented by a dirty car like this one. Im pretending that the dirty filthy car is not my car. Im hiding my face in embarrassment. A young guy comes over and makes conversation about USC. He is laughing with me at my car. I say, Can you believe that car is from USC? Who can own such a car?! I mean USC is such a great school. He is eating yogurt and offers me a taste. I take a taste. He is also making comments about the car. Thats the dirtiest car Ive ever seen. We laughed and I then say about the BMW, How ironic that it should come right after the shiny BMW owned by a doctor. He smiled and told me that is his car. Thats your car? I asked stunned. Yep. You graduated from SC? He nods with a smirk. Youre the doctor?! Thats me. So wheres your car. It didnt come through yet? Remember the dirtiest car ever? Thats me. We laughed a little. We talked about running, and at the time I was running about 2-5 miles a day. It turned out that the doctor also ran. So spontaneously, he asked me if I would like to go running on the beach in Malibu. That he was just about to go for a run, would I like to join him? It was really like a challenge. So I told him yes. We agreed to meet in about forty minutes. The amazing thing is we both showed up. We ran on the beach for about twenty minutes. He gave out a moment or two before I did and exhausted and sweaty we went up to his apartment for a drink of water and lemonade. He said Why dont we have dinner later? I left to change and shower, and I came back about an hour later. It was a warm balmy night; he took me to a sidewalk caf, overlooking the city, where we enjoyed two glasses of wine and a great Italian dinner. It could have continued into the evening but I didnt want more. One other time that I will share with you is a time that I was invited by friends to a Halloween party at their house. We got up to dance, and they had this electronic bat that flapped its wings and made spooky sounds with movement. I started d ancing with this bat with the sounds and the wings flapping. Everyone was laughing. Then in another instant I was pretending that I couldnt dance, and I was not very coordinated. I started dancing with intensity and concentration, as if I really needed to concentrate, but the act was no matter how I concentrated I couldnt dance well. At one point I just danced right out of the room into the bedroom and danced back out again like I made a mistake. It was hilarious. Everyone at the party was falling on the floor laughing. Its those spontaneous moments that add fun and laughter to our lives. So be spontaneous. Take a chance. Enjoy life. Live in this moment. Explore. |
