Pay Attention – That Stranger Could Change Your Course
Posted in: Blog by amy on March 4, 2017
As I was setting off on a hike with my sister this morning, she stopped to say hi to someone. Instinctually, I stood off to the side, hesitant to engage, because I had our scheduled hike on my mind. But, today, I was paying attention even though I was eager to stick to our plan. In the past, I had spent a lot of time in my own space, blanketed by my own thoughts. I probably have missed many opportunities to hear someone’s story … to randomly connect … to learn a lesson or gain a simple piece of knowledge.
Now that I’m in my mid 40s, I’ve come to realize the power of random meetings and connections, and my mind and heart are so much more open. I ignored the clock’s powerful presence and instead I listened. This woman was casually alluding to her career, a career that was full and rich and relevant to my own journey. She taught communications and advised students how to brand themselves and their work and how to interview effectively. She instantly inspired me. By the end of our five-minute conversation, she had told me about a website that would help me with getting some of my poetry published.
She learned that I was passionate about poetry after taking the time to ask me about my writing and wanting to know which kind of writing I liked the most. I loved that she made me step back and think about this. I’ve been writing so much for other people lately, and I have not been taking the time to do the creative writing that I most enjoy. Some people have a gift for meeting people and getting them to immediately open up and share. Others have a gift to inspire and motivate people within just moments of meeting them. This woman possessed both of these gifts.
I walked away from our brief encounter, went on a two-hour hike and felt more inspired with each step. When I got back to my room, I immediately focused on getting more of my poetry out there. Then, that evolved and I started to pursue paths for getting my next children’s book published. All of this happened before noon. And, all of this new energy came about as a result of a brief, random conversation.
This is just one of many examples of seemingly meaningless encounters that have the power to shape one’s morning, week, career, path or life. Recently, just as on this morning’s hike, I have found myself connecting with people who have provided me with unexpected gifts. Whether we appear to have similarities or to have nothing in common, they are showing up on my path. And, because they are there, I have been seeing them. I am aware of their presence. I am listening to their stories. I am taking away something from every encounter.
It’s too easy to get lost in our daily schedules. We have plans and commitments. We have stress and deadlines. Yet, one never knows why certain individuals appear right before us. I have become more committed to listening to them, to hearing them, to opening up to them and to learning from them. Here I am, writing and feeling so inspired, all because I paid attention to a stranger’s words for just a few minutes. I am grateful for that encounter and for all of the inspiring ones that are yet to come before me.
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