A "Peace" Of Paper

A couple of years ago, one of my clients fired the team I was working on.  It was hard to not take it personally, since I was the lead on the account.  Being fired was harsh, but the words the client said over the phone were some I’ll never forget.

That night when I got on the train to go home, I tried to convince myself that everything was going to be alright.   I said it over and over again, but the more I said it in my mind, the less I believed it.  Then a girl with long blonde hair got on the stop after mine.  She sat across from me and began to quietly cry.  She kept her face down and tried to cover it with her hair so no one would notice.  I then took out a piece of paper from my bag and wrote down the phrase “Everything is going to be alright!”  As I stepped off the train, I handed her the note.

When I walked on to the train platform, I turned around to see if she was reading it.  And she looked at me and mouthed the words, “Thank You.”  And that’s when I really got the message that everything was going to be alright.

Although I don’t know what she was crying about – I have learned that all pain is the same.  This truth also allows me to know that if you understand you are not alone, it helps to alleviate whatever pain you’re feeling and in the end you can really believe ALL is going to be RIGHT.

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Watching Alert!

If you’re like me, you can’t believe this extraordinary weather we’re having.  Hurricane Irene has shut down the city.  In the ten years I’ve lived here, I’ve never known the MBTA (Boston's public transportation system) to completely close.   And this is just one of the many steps officials and residents have taken as we all watch and wait. 
 
Last Tuesday, we were also in a state of watching and waiting when a geological earthquake, the strongest East Coast tremor in 67 years, caused damage to older buildings, shutting down much of the nation’s capital and affecting tens of millions of people from New England to South Carolina. 

It’s not surprising that this week we have all focused on the pending inconveniences each weather alert brings to our lives.  I’ve been talking to many friends on the east and southern coast about how interesting it is that we are all experiencing and witnessing the same thing, and one of them said something very wise and very true.  There is an opportunity to change our mindset about what is taking place.  Although we may feel that we are dealing with these weather alerts from different parts of the country or points of view, it reminds us – no matter where we are coming from, we are all connected in some small way as we watch and wait.

No Shoes, No Service?

I was riding the bus home after a long day at work and heard an older woman about five to six seats away talking LOUDLY on her cell phone.  She was talking as if her cell phone was a bull horn, or as if she was acting out a one-woman-play called, “Where You At?”   She was disturbing the peace…mostly, my peace.  But hold on to your hats, ladies and gentleman, that’s not all.  I looked down and she didn’t have on any shoes.  Just white socks!  Let the judging begin:

Really?!?! What state of mind do you have to be in to not wear shoes on public transportation?  Now, I’m questioning the validity of her cell phone conversation.  Was there even anyone on the other end of that call? Did NO SHOES mean NO SERVICE?

Then she got off the bus.  When she exited, there was a younger woman waiting for her.  The younger woman had just put her cell phone away, then hugged the older woman and gave her a pair of shoes.  They both sat on the bench while the older woman put on her shoes.

Hello everyone….my name is James Singleton and I’m going to hell.

I stopped judging because I started thinking about how similar the older woman talking on the phone was to me and pretty much everyone I know.

No matter what…no matter who she was (or how loudly she was talking) – she WANTED connection.  More importantly, she DESERVED connection.  On the other end of that phone – there was someone who cared.

In this rare case – no shoes, meant service.  It also meant connection.

Seven Blocks

One afternoon, I decided to grab a cab after a day of shopping to drop my packages home.  Once we turned on to Tremont Street in the bustling South End neighborhood, the driver asked if I was familiar with any of the restaurants we drove past and which one would be ideal for a date. 

I said, “Well, is it a first date, second…how long have you been dating?”

He replied, “I don’t typically date a girl for more than one month.”

“Why is that?," I asked.

He answered, “I don’t know…maybe fear of commitment? But I DO know I eventually want to be in a relationship.”

What he and I didn’t realize at the time is that our talk was what would be considered an initial coaching call.  So, I asked, “Are you looking for a girl who would be OK with you dating other people?”

He stopped the cab in front of my door – then turned around and gave me a look as though he had never considered that question before.  After a brief pause, he said, “Do you think I could find that?”

And I replied, “The question wasn’t do you think you can find it…the question is – what is it that you are looking for?”   

I paid the fare and we said our good-byes and good lucks.  Then he drove away…to drive beyond the 7 blocks that got him to a question. 

Just For You…

If you find yourself repeating a pattern…you’re stuck, but you want to get beyond the 7 blocks – consider signing up for a free 30 minute consultation to get in touch with your Insightful Voice.