Burst your Bubble

We all have one – a personal bubble.
A space at which we feel comfortable letting people in.
There are many different bubbles out there.
Some like to have a bubble so big they’d literally love to be living in the photo above.
That type of bubble – is bliss.
Basically, it provides a safe space on all sides of a person.

This bubble does not exist in the lives of:
Teachers, City Dwellers, or Parents.
In all 3 types of people no matter your bubble preference – It’s blatantly ignored.
If you live in the city it’s so packed that you can’t help but rub shoulders with your neighbor.
Whether walking down the street or riding the transportation.
People become desensitized and your bubble just disintegrates.

Teaching and Parenthood are one and the same.
It’s not that kids don’t want to respect your bubble.
It’s just that they don’t know what a bubble is just yet.
They don’t operate or function with a bubble, a rare kid might.
However most, just want to be close.
You’re their safety, their constant, their sure thing.
Thus, you and I, our bubble preferences are put on the back burner.

Parenthood

10 years into it and I find my bubble has morphed into – what bubble?
It’s so desensitized I’ll walk right up to a person and stand shoulder-to-shoulder.
* Gasp *
In today’s world that is TOO close and personable.

The other day in the grocery store I entered someone’s bubble.
I could tell by the instant stare and warning sound.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget due to having children that the world, still very much functions…
This is my bubble, do not enter.

I’ve found it liberating to let go of that protection, let your bubble loose.
Let some air out and see what happens.
Or – Just Burst your Bubble.

The further we go into the world of internet interaction the bigger our bubble gets.
This form of desensitizing is creating a world of cold and standoffish people.

Again I recommend – Just burst it.
Invite friends over.
Welcome the embrace of that friend who is a hugger. 
If you’re having a conversation where eye contact is happening…It will be okay.
Do not avert your eyes.

Do you know who didn’t seem to have a bubble?

Jesus.
He had a mission he was sent to do.
He did it by making time for those who needed him.
Entering homes and synagogues, he spent his days actively doing life with others.
Right in there rubbing shoulders with friends, doing life.
He was present for all of it.

We can’t bring this level of friendship into the lives of others if we are concerned about their bubble and what they may think if we offend it.

The best way of showing is by doing.
Let us burst our bubbles first.
Get in there and stand shoulder to shoulder, doing life together.

Burst your Bubble – see how that freedom feels!

Bursting your bubble requires trust, maybe you need to read this first before being able to entertain the idea of bursting that safety net wide open.