Balloon Activity

Another good one posted on FaceBook:

Once a group of 50 people were attending a seminar. Suddenly the speaker stopped and decided to do a group activity. He started giving each one a balloon. Each one was asked to write his/her name on it using a marker. Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room.

Now these delegates, all wearing name tags, were let in that room and asked to find the balloon which had their name written, within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, pushing around others and there was utter chaos.

At the end of 5 minutes no one could find their own balloon.

Next, each person was asked to randomly collect a balloon and then find and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.

The speaker began—this happens in our lives. So many people are frantically searching for and pursuing their own happiness, not really knowing where or how to find it."

We have the ability to give others a gift that they often cannot find for themselves, and in turn, someone else can do the same for us. Reaching out, taking time, paying attention, practicing selflessness, slowing down, listening and loving. We all need each other and are so much more powerful together than apart.