It was my turn I suppose. I had other plans for the day. I wanted to stretch, workout, meditate, write and play volleyball on the beach. Before all of that, I decided to have a coffee at my favorite cafe. While seated outside, an older lady from Czech Republic who I frequently see and speak too walked up, sat down and began to let it all out.
She spoke about the death of her mother. The death of her best friend. She spoke of her depression. She spoke of wanting to end her life on several occasions. She said, "I often think, how can I die tomorrow?"
I just listened. I asked questions when appropriate. I listened some more. She spoke for an hour. She needed someone to listen, so I did just that. I tried to convey to her that there are millions of reasons to keep on living...even if it is to have a coffee with a stranger.
At one point she spoke about her experimentation with different drugs. When she spoke of mushrooms she said, "After I took mushrooms, I was happy, just happy for no reason at all." It was the first smile I had seen on her weathered face this morning. She began to giggle as she reminisced about the moment. Her smile was contagious.
I have longed believed that every person I meet teaches me something. Even if they teach me how not to be, or what not to do, or what not to say, they still are teaching me. Therefore, in every interaction, I look for "the lesson" I am meant to learn. When she spoke about her happiness I realized that was my lesson. I thought immediately, that is how I feel naturally. I am happy, just happy, for no reason at all. Sure I have moments of doubt, sadness and a thousand questions, but that does not impede on my happiness because it comes from within. I have a million reasons to be happy. To smile. To be grateful. I choose to focus on those instead of the 50 or 100 reasons why I could be sad, and looking for a reason to pity myself.
How wonderful it is to be alive. To be learning. To be experiencing this life we are given. How great it is to be given the opportunity to view the world through the eyes of another and see how fortunate our lives are. She taught me several things during that hour conversation. I am most grateful for her teaching me that all I want, all I need, I already have. I have happiness in my heart. My happiness is in a place that can't be taken away.
It was my turn to listen to someone. To give someone my time. In turn, she gave me a great lesson in life: The moment when you recognize what your happiness is worth. How valuable of a lesson is it? It has changed my outlook on the way I interact with others. It has changed the way I view my world. I will continue to live, to take risk and enjoy this life. Because that is why we are all here. I hope you do the same.
She spoke about the death of her mother. The death of her best friend. She spoke of her depression. She spoke of wanting to end her life on several occasions. She said, "I often think, how can I die tomorrow?"
I just listened. I asked questions when appropriate. I listened some more. She spoke for an hour. She needed someone to listen, so I did just that. I tried to convey to her that there are millions of reasons to keep on living...even if it is to have a coffee with a stranger.
At one point she spoke about her experimentation with different drugs. When she spoke of mushrooms she said, "After I took mushrooms, I was happy, just happy for no reason at all." It was the first smile I had seen on her weathered face this morning. She began to giggle as she reminisced about the moment. Her smile was contagious.
I have longed believed that every person I meet teaches me something. Even if they teach me how not to be, or what not to do, or what not to say, they still are teaching me. Therefore, in every interaction, I look for "the lesson" I am meant to learn. When she spoke about her happiness I realized that was my lesson. I thought immediately, that is how I feel naturally. I am happy, just happy, for no reason at all. Sure I have moments of doubt, sadness and a thousand questions, but that does not impede on my happiness because it comes from within. I have a million reasons to be happy. To smile. To be grateful. I choose to focus on those instead of the 50 or 100 reasons why I could be sad, and looking for a reason to pity myself.
How wonderful it is to be alive. To be learning. To be experiencing this life we are given. How great it is to be given the opportunity to view the world through the eyes of another and see how fortunate our lives are. She taught me several things during that hour conversation. I am most grateful for her teaching me that all I want, all I need, I already have. I have happiness in my heart. My happiness is in a place that can't be taken away.
It was my turn to listen to someone. To give someone my time. In turn, she gave me a great lesson in life: The moment when you recognize what your happiness is worth. How valuable of a lesson is it? It has changed my outlook on the way I interact with others. It has changed the way I view my world. I will continue to live, to take risk and enjoy this life. Because that is why we are all here. I hope you do the same.
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