bring the hoop along

since Guilford, CT, where i found a hula hoop on the side of the road, i carry a hula hoop with me wherever i go. the one i carry now was given to me by the folks i spent a night with in Cumberland, Maine.

jana asked me the other day, "why do you bring that hoop everywhere you go?" i explained that it is because people notice it and sometimes brings them joy, or breaks them out of their thought pattern. it is for inspiration!
this day it so happened that a magical little interaction occurred because of the hoop:

jana had to stop on the roadside to use her cell phone. when we stopped i brought the hoop into my right hand and was going to just twirl it around a little, making use of the moment to practice. a boy of perhaps 12 came over, attracted to the hoop, and inquired what i was up to with it. he said he could do this trick with it and when i handed it to him he demonstrated. it was to twirl it on his arm, toss it up, and catch it on his other arm. it brought me joy that he would share this skill with someone he just met on the street. i gave him some encouraging words and accepted the hoop back.

this is the magic of carrying the hoop. i've often talked to people i see with hoops. it always leads to a positive interaction and sometimes helps me find special new friends.