I had a little reminder about connection today, courtesy of a Starbucks app that refused to cooperate. 😂

I almost always order my coffee ahead.

It’s convenient. I place my order from my phone, walk in, grab my drink, and head right back out. Easy.

But today, my app wasn’t working, so I actually had to go inside and order at the counter.

And I’m so glad I did.

The barista recognized me and then recognized my last name. We started talking and quickly discovered that her daughter is in the same grade as my son. Her older son went to school with my nephew. Then somehow we figured out that her family lives on the same road where my husband grew up.

One little connection led to another.

We stood there talking for a few minutes, finding all these funny ways our lives overlapped, and by the time I walked away with my coffee, I was smiling.

And she was smiling too.

It was such a small interaction.

But it genuinely lifted my spirits.

What are we missing in the name of convenience?

It got me thinking about how many little interactions we’ve removed from our lives in the name of convenience.

We order ahead.

We use self-checkout.

We have groceries delivered.

We text instead of call.

We find ways to make things faster, easier, and more efficient.

And listen, I am not giving up my conveniences. 😂 There will absolutely be more mobile Starbucks orders in my future.

But I wonder if sometimes, without realizing it, we’re also eliminating opportunities for connection.

Those tiny conversations with people we might otherwise pass by.

The person behind the counter.

The neighbor we haven't talked to in a while.

The stranger standing next to us in line.

The person whose life overlaps with ours in ways we would never discover if we didn't stop long enough to talk.

Maybe connection is the point

I've been thinking a lot lately about purpose and the threads that seem to weave through our lives.

Yesterday, I had a realization that one of the threads that has consistently woven through mine is connection.

Connecting with people.

Helping people connect with one another.

Helping someone reconnect with themselves.

Sometimes even taking something complicated and helping connect the pieces so it feels a little clearer.

And then today, life handed me this tiny reminder of just how simple connection can be.

It doesn't always require a program, a workshop, a coaching session, or some big meaningful conversation.

Sometimes it happens while you're waiting for your coffee.

Maybe the invitation isn't to abandon convenience.

Maybe it's simply to notice when convenience has given us the option to bypass one another entirely...and every once in a while, choose differently.

Put the phone down.

Look up.

Say hello.

Ask the question.

Stay for another minute.

Because you never know what connection might be waiting on the other side.

Today, mine came with an iced coffee.

And I'm really glad my app wasn't working. ❤️

What small connection has brightened your day lately?