Paths that Cross

Have you ever met someone and instantly knew that you were meant to connect? Sounds a bit odd when you say it out loud, but it’s something that I truly believe. So many teachings over the years from my mother and her siblings taught me that people come into your life for a minute, a reason, a season, or a lifetime to provide you with valuable lessons. When I was younger, I would become attached to a wonderful person that entered my life and disappeared very quietly leaving lots of gems of wisdom behind. At that stage in my life I would become sad because I knew that I would miss them a lot.

Daily, I cross paths with those wonderful individuals that enter my life for a minute or a very short period of time. They almost innocently provide me with the strength, guidance or that push that I just happen to need at that time. I would often ask myself how did they know what to say to me, but now I just savour the moment and accept the lessons of love that they share with me. It happens when I am shopping for food, I often connect to other customers or workers. A great example is when I went to pick up a pair of glasses. I was feeling rather sad after being in lockdown for several weeks. As I tried to escape the shop, it was as though the owner and staff knew that I needed a boost and appeared to be doing a tag team act of keeping me talking and amused. After one hour of laughing, learning more about their lives and families, and eating homemade brownies, I left the shop with a big smile on my face, saying hello to every person as I walked home. Just the way they entered my world for a minute, I could see that my happiness and chatting with strangers along the way also gave them that minute of what they needed, someone to be kind and genuine. That old saying really is true, what goes around comes around.

As I have matured with age, I now understand that people come into our lives to fulfil a need, teach a lesson or help us to apply those lessons in our lives. Many of them move out of our lives once the task has completed. I have been in situations where I trusted someone very much that I allowed to enter my life and attempt to cause harm. Quickly, during that time the blindfold was removed and I escorted my so-called friend towards the exit sign of my life, allowing time for me to repair the damages caused. Today, I realise that my job was to accept the lessons and to be…