Baltimore Life Coaching – Christina Watson

So last week I went to a Meetup group for Spanish speaking hopefuls. Yes, we are a rag tag group of mostly students learning the language, with a few “nativos” who come to laugh their heads off as we butcher – and get better at – Spanish. We met at a local Mexican restaurant (with great guacamole) and well, with 36 of us, the waiter split the check up 6 ways. At these events, you really only get to know the people next to and across from you, but that is plenty when practicing a new language, I assure you. Brayden, sitting 3 down from me, was in charge of the check I was on and he asked for my contribution. I reached for my purse, only to discover that my wallet was not in it. I panicked. I tried to think where it could be and nothing came to mind. Then, I thought, maybe it’s in the car. So I excused myself from this group of strangers saying to everyone, “I’ll be right back.” And one man commented, “Sure you will.” Ha!

No wallet in the car! No idea where it was! I called 3 people and left messages and my sister called me back. She was not too far away and would run $40 down to me. I went back inside to tell Brayden my good news and before I could say a thing, he said, “It’s okay, I will pay for you.” Oh, but my sister is already on her way and I don’t want her to come for nothing, can you just wait 5 minutes? to which he agreed. My sister swooped in screaming “Ma’am you’re traveling ATM is here” and back out she went. I gave $20 to Brayden who took it and completed our transaction. I went back to my seat and was chatting up some nativos, when the man across the table interrupted us. “Excuse me, did you find your wallet?” No. “How can you just stand there and be so happy?” Hmmmm….a dream question for a life coach, I might add. And I responded, “Because I know there is a blessing in this somewhere. I just don’t know what it is yet.”

 

Ten minutes later I am walking to the parking garage when I notice Brayden behind me. “Hey, thanks again for your kind offer to help me.” No problem, he says. We talk Spanish, Mexican food, and arrive at our cars. Ok, bye. I drive to the cashier and am waiting under the sign that says “CASH ONLY” when Brayden pulls up next to me. I roll down my window. He says, “How funny is this. I don’t have any cash. I have to go find an ATM.”  Wait. And I said, “NO! I have enough for you, too.” I had just enough cash to cover us both. No, he says, I just thought it was funny. Yes, I know, Brayden, but I know what it really it is. 

It is my blessing. See. there is a magical quality to helping someone who has helped you. Yes, it is wonderful to help all the people you can, anywhere you can, with all that you can. But when someone helps you – does something for you that you could not do for yourself –  and then you have the opportunity to help them. It’s a no-brainer. You just do it. And it feels good. Great, in fact. I was giddy all the way home. And then I remembered the man across the table, and my comment to him. There’s a blessing in this somewhere. And I had found it.  

 

Because if life is about feeling good, and it is, this is the way to it! Look for the blessing – in everything.  It will always lead you to feeling good.  And if you will decide that nothing is more important than that you feel good, all your experiences will turn out to be blessings and your life will be a happy one.