What makes a trip memorable isn’t always the destination one arrives at, but the assistance one receives from strangers along the way. This was the case for me this past week. I have been in America for two weeks. Although I am from America, I haven’t lived here in nearly 10 years. This trip had many facets to it, and was tightly booked. I had planned that each component would go according to plan. Family visits in NYC and Philly, an energy psychology conference in Maryland. In addition, part of my journey included heading to Arizona to empty out my storage via donations and preparation for shipment to Spain. Going through one’s belongings of items you have put aside for years is a difficult feat. It’s physically and psychologically draining. But I had assistance from some strangers.
I was lucky enough to have my mom join me for this adventure, and used miles for our flight from Philly to Phoenix. Because we were using miles, the layover I landed was a 6 hour wait! I reckoned this would be do-able with my annual one day passes to use with United, but when we got to the United Club a sign was posted stating “no one day passes.” I thought I would risk it, and an exception would be made. A staff member obliged and offered a simple “why not?” He let us in. As we sat in the lounge and grabbed breakfast, I conjured to further chance my luck. I asked a staff member if we could be bumped to an earlier flight, and she squeezed down our six hour layover to 90 minutes. She warned us there was a possibility our luggage wouldn’t make it. But luck continued and our luggage arrived on time. Travel blessings were abound. With each small level of assistance, I thanked the universe for all the help along the way from these everyday angels.
After landing in Phoenix, grabbing lunch, we headed straight to work at a storage facility in Tempe. I had zero plan of where we were going to donate all these belongings and furniture. Our hybrid rental car was only mid size. The local Goodwill took all donations, but they did not have the availability pick items up. I didn’t know how people sold or gave away items anymore. Craigslist? Facebook Marketplace? There wasn’t enough time to list each item and sell it.
But on our first day at the storage facility, a fellow storage neighbor walked by and chatted with us. My mom offered her a massage chair I was donating. She responded with a quick and exuberant “yes!” We informed her, I had numerous other items I would be giving away. She said she would take all of them, and she did. Throughout the week, Roberta was there at moments when we needed her. My mom said in some ways she was like an angel, you asked for her and she was right there in the storage facility ready to pick up an item. In total we spent 20 hours in three days sorting through this storage, and this would have been even longer if we didn’t have Roberta’s assistance.
It amazes me how help can be there when you need it, and it comes from the unexpected. With each person we met and assisted us along the journey, I gave them one of these Gratitude Puzo/Bella Cards. It’s a small simple way to offer gratitude, but it is tangible and memorable. I stayed in that positive zone: offering kindness, receiving kindness, offering gratitude. The cycle continues.
Life may not always work out as smoothly and seamlessly as this, but sometimes the kindness of strangers may surprise us. All we have to do is ask, be willing to receive. And also know that it is our mission as humans to pay that back forward with others, in one way or another.
It Only Takes A Smile 