We sometimes lose sight of the fact that every day we have a choice.
We can choose to connect to those around us, or we can choose to close ourselves off. Some days we may not feel like reaching out to others, but on days when we can, you never know just what may come of it.
We’re busy.
I know. I’m caught in that cycle, too. When I do get a moment to breathe and do something for myself, sometimes I just want the time to clear my mind and, blessedly, saynothing. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But during our more generous moments…
Maybe we could stretch ourselves a bit further — stretch to offer human warmth and conversation to someone who deserves it simply for being another person in our midst. Stretch to brighten someone’s day, knowing that maybe we’ll be turned down, and maybe we won’t. Stretch to keep ourselves open to the world and to other people, even if naysayers would have you believe it’s safer to stay tight and closed off. Stretch simply to tell the world that we won’t be automatons who use our energy and light only for the tasks required to survive but that we will be people who reallylive.
That’s what happened when Brooke Ochoa went to lunch by herself. She could have kept her gaze fixed to her phone, barely taking in the information from the environment around her. But she tuned in. She noticed people. She noticed Delores. And what came of that is truly beautiful. Enjoy.
“Today I Went to eat at a restaurant for lunch and I saw this elder lady coming from afar so I waited to hold the door for her, she was very thankful and sweet. She then told the waitress, “table for one”, so I waited and hesitated but then I walked over and said, “I’m eating by myself too would you like to have lunch together?” She was ecstatic! Come to find out she spent the last decade living with her mom who recently passed away and her aunt who recently was put into a nursing home, so she has been having a hard time being alone. We had a wonderful talk, and she just kept smiling and saying thank you for listening to me, which made me smile too! Her words healed my heart just as much as i healed her lonely one. By far the best decision I’ve made all year!!! Her name is Delores, and we will be having lunch every Thursday from now on.”
