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What do you do on the weekend? Same ole, same ole.

Weeknights are routine for most, but weekends are a window into how people enjoy life. The little time off we have is special, and passes way too fast to waste, unless, you love doing “nothing” like me. (see previous post)

The casual moments that help glue lucky gatherers together into micro-communities can create “neighborhoods” in office work environments. Desk areas become houses. Hallways are highways. And the largest break area is the nearest airport. (Note: The bathrooms can double as hospitals and dressing rooms.) And just like our actual neighbors, we learn to anticipate responses from these familiar folks based on previous casual encounters. It’s how we keep up with each other. You know when people are having babies, going on vacations abroad, or even when someone has experienced a loss.

Post 3 Pic 1 Chris Kindrick Weekend Art Director

Post 3 Pic 2 Chris Kindrick Weekend Art Director

Checking in shows we care. We share happy moments and misfortunes. Experiences, adventures, advice, love, congratulations, tears, commonality, and courage are given out freely to those that ask. But don’t forget that hearing our friends tell us how they are enjoying life really tells us they are “ok.” But I can see that on Facebook, right? Well, people show what they want to when they curate their lives. Social media doesn’t accurately represent emotion — people show what they want, and sometimes it’s a lie. Only real social interactivity — like sight, sound, touch, feel or visual impressions of body language can tell us how they really are.

For example, I may post this — looking hopeful and content.

Post 3 Pic 3 Chris Kindrick Weekend Art Director

But actually feel like this — lost and aloof, which I did at that time.

Post 3 Pic 4 Chris Kindrick Weekend Art Director

We have to connect on a human level to see true transparency. Eye contact. Smiling. Showing signs of life to one another in passing can be healing. Consider that someone you know may have a light that’s dying a little, so a chat up with you while “waiting for the elevator” may be the spark they need to shine again.  And the workplace can be a good place to find it, or be the one sharing it.

Post 3 Pic 5 Chris Kindrick Weekend Art Director

So what did you do this weekend? Ask someone. Check on them. The answer may be inspirational, or even healing for those in pain. I’ve dealt with some depressing life events in the past 8 months, and my connections to my work family, as well as my outside relationships, truly helped me get past those humps and lift my head up again at a time that it was sinking fast. Being at a place for a decade allows for this. I’ve spent more time with these wonderful people than anyone else in my life.

Spreading warm light and positive energy is on us as humans. No one will make you connect with someone — but, just like a hug, it takes two to connect and you’ll both feel better afterwards. I love my coworkers. And they are the reason I’ve stayed at this wonderful agency for 10 years, 3 months, and 28 days.

So here’s some of them I’ve shot over the past months while I’ve had my Fujifilm x100t.

Thanks for reading. Pop over to instagram.com/chris_kindrick to connect and catch more of my weekend wackiness.