Lately I've been buying windows. And although we are in the process of renovating an older house, these windows are not for it. They're not functional. They're not new. They're not meant for any traditional purpose. I just like the way they look and am thinking of hanging them in our garden for a summer party.

I find these windows -- old and wooden-paned with chipping paint and foggy glass -- at swap meets, usually leaning up against pick-up trucks with a $10 sign written on them. They seem to be a bargain, but then, is anything one doesn't need ever a bargain? I decided to get my psychic Windex out and concluded that these windows are symbols of new perspectives.

There are times when each of us needs a new perspective on something in our lives. And this economy has provided us with that, whether we needed it or not! Yet, this new point of view is far from being negative. I see myself, my clients and my friends actualy growing from the recession. Perhaps not in the economic way we'd like, but this growth is deeper than that. We are all finding more unique and profound ways to connect with one another.

For instance...

Last week Pauline Parry of Good Gracious! Events and RRivre Davies of Rrivre Works, were the primary hosts for two events for two sets of 40 wedding planners each. The planners came from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara for an evening and morning (yes, it was a sleepover) at the Simpson House Inn, a beautiful bed & breakfast in Santa Barbara. The design, cuisine and energy of the events created a shared experience and a lasting connection between all involved. (watch this blog for photos of the event next week!)

Extraordinary Events has begun publishing The GOOD News-Paper at the end of each week that is always guaranteed to uplift the reader and leave a smile on your face (if not the occasional tear from the touching stories they find).

Greco's Gourmet Catering added another layer to its Meet Me In The Kitchen cooking class series (and widened its audience) by broadcasting certain ones live on the web.

David Merrell of AOO Events began a blog called designdawgs. The title and easy blogging style freed him up to connect to the special events industry and clients in new ways, to create space for colleagues (and even some competitors) to guest blog, and to have fun with his design work.

And Liz Beck Events has started Bustle: A Wedding Workshop for brides offering advice from a variety of professionals on how these brides can better plan their own wedding -- even though Liz Beck is a wedding planner!

These are just a few of the inventive marketing campaigns that are happening today. They work because they are so much more than just "campaigns." They are authentic expressions of generosity, information, experience and knowledge. They are invitations not just to do business together, but to build real relationships.

Discarded windows, separated from their original use and foundation, can be seen like the economy -- lost possibilities and better days. Or, with a simple shift in perception, they can be seen as full of portent -- unhinged from their past and free to be whatever the viewer wants them to be. To me, $10 is a small price to pay for the chance to see our lives, work, even our gardens, from a new point of view.