Slowing Down to Forge Deeper Connections
“If you slow down, I promise, pay attention and really look, you will fall back in love with the world and everyone in it.”
When beloved illustrator Wendy MacNaughton was growing up, her grandmother showed her around museums and the city. The trips weren’t solely to expose her to art. Bernice had a deeper intention for her granddaughter…
“If I didn’t pay attention to something that she thought was important, a person or an interesting sign, she would yell at me: ‘Look! You need to look! You need to pay attention!’
While that was a little terrifying, it was one of the most important lessons I’ve received in my life: To pay close attention.”
Decades later, looking, listening, and loving are pillars of Wendy’s life philosophy. As a graphic journalist — admired for her culture-shifting work in The New York Times, bestselling books, and children’s show, DrawTogether — Wendy has a unique vantage point into our shared human experience. This is what she wishes we knew about each other…
“Everybody is so much more than we first think they are. Everybody has a story that they might want to share. And, everybody wants to feel seen.
When we slow down, so much more is revealed about who people are and the stories that they carry with them.
When we notice those things, and start to appreciate people and what brought them to the place that we are, and also reflect on what brought us to where we are, we can start to connect with each other in a better way.”
Wendy’s illustrations span capturing the interior worlds of boot-making workshops, hospice centers, and the art market inside the USPS. Each place is alive with its own heartbeat. Still, the privilege of drawing them has taught her a singular lesson…
“Every time I go into a story, I think I have an idea of how it’s going to unfold. If I allow myself to be surprised and to be wrong, which I always am, an entirely new world reveals itself.”
Wendy’s wisdom invokes a powerful invitation…What truths might we discover if we pay closer attention?
In guiding us to answer this question, she illuminates how unveiling each other’s stories nourishes the connection that is integral to our humanity.
What might be illuminated if you are fully present in one interaction today? How might you honor what you see?
With gratitude,
Jenna