Another application of step 7 and taken into everyday life to make us awaken, connect and appreciate.  To humanise people that we may often ignore because we don’t know them, don’t feel we will relate to them or even see ourselves as more important or lesser then.  All fantasy and about our unruly minds and assumptions.  We can get connection and joy by acknowledgement and giving recognition no matter how insignificant we may assume it is.  I did this the other day shopping and at the till where exchanges of passing the time led my focus on a young chap who had disabilities was busy working away and interacting.  I could see how much this meant to him and how he was finding his way in life and that particular environment with people that he wanted to communicate with and do a good job for.  It really touched me , not from a place of sympathy or even compassion but absolute inspiration, courage and admiration.  This left a glow in my heart for hours afterwards and its times like this where i wonder at life and what it has to offer.  I learned something that day from that young man and i appreciated him being one of my teachers about how to be.  If i had not been open hearted and working the step 7 i may not have even noticed this and therefore missed out.  With this i would say keep awake when we pass others in the street, on buses, in shops, waiting in cues , notice life and exchanges with others.  The world becomes more alive and real even without words we can have intimacy.  This step allows us to see life as it is for that moment rather then be in script.   Apply this step in meetings as we never know what we may be closed off to or have missed.  To be less self absorbed means seeing others and the world more.