Lessons Learned

Two weeks without writing is leaving me itchy inside. So much to spill so let’s begin the brain dump. 

Buying gifts days before Christmas left us without a shopping cart, so instead,  the store offered us a body sized clear bag…and when anyone gives you a body sized bag it must be filled.  (Brilliant marketing, Bonton).  Shortly afterwards, an employee noticed me struggling and offered to stash my finds at the front counter.  Instant relief.  Her name was Lisa, so that was easy for me to remember. Once we finally cashed out, there was Lisa again, offering her sweet smile and since I’m all about customer service and love finding it’s rare appearance, I made sure to tell her how happy I was.  She saw a customer struggling, stepped up to help, offered refreshing chatter, and a smile.  I was grateful and she was overwhelmed by my feedback.  She got teary and offered me a hug telling me she was going thru some stressful situations outside of work and really needed to hear something positive that day. Lesson learned:  Freely offer sincere compliments because you never know who might really need one. 

Over Christmas, we jetted to Las Vegas to explore, laugh and make new memories.  The concept that we were headed to sin-city on the holiest of holidays wasn’t lost on me.  The start was a bit questionable…three parking tickets, a hotel mix-up, a 2-hour flight delay and a seat that wouldn’t recline.  But like anywhere you travel, there is potential for both good and bad…the art is to find the good.  And we found it in spades (excuse the Vegas pun)… The kids climbing magnificent mountains boasting striking layers of multi-colored rocks, sweet Norma in Target with her southern drawl and sassy round black glasses, bent-over-belly-laughing with the checkout gal at the absolute best BBQ joint ever, taking turns being pampered in a luxurious automated spa chair, savoring hand crafted cocktails with dear friends after a long day of sensory overload, enjoying artful story telling of cross country adventures by visiting family members. Lesson relearned:  Look for the good…it’s always there. 

Part of the reason we travel over Christmas is to make new memories to enhance (they never really replace, nor would I want them to) the final days spent with Mom before she passed on January 2, 2015.  Yesterday was three years.  Close friends have marked that date on their calendar and sent thoughtful texts checking in. I was okay yesterday…productive, positive.  When tears didn’t come all day, I wondered if that was the last of it… is this how it will be moving forward?  Incrementally lighter each day…THEN today, I heard her song on the way home from a ridiculously lovely trip to Trader Joes.  I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me had me with deep thoughts and wet face.  I like to imagine her experiencing sheer bliss every moment, holding babies that were delivered stillborn until their mammas can join them (she was a Maternity nurse and while she never shared stories, I know she remembered each one)…I see her strolling thru gardens of lilacs, her soft sweet hands entwined with Jesus, I see her young, vibrant, colorful, twinkly-eye smiling.  I can only imagine.  Instantly thankful that she hand picked that song…I can only imagine the comfort it gave her and the comfort it now gives me.  Lesson learned: The difference between sadness and joy is often a slight shift of perspective. 

It’s been a long holiday of lessons learned and relearned.  I’m one beyond blessed gal and if you’re still reading, I want to say thank you.  Thank you for sharing this journey with me.  You are pretty awesome stuff and I’m sure you have stories of your own…I’d like to hear them. Put it out there... someone needs to hear it and will perhaps learn lessons alongside you as well.  xo