Each Wednesday (or thereabouts) I’ve been recording a Curiosity Journal to recap the previous week using these tag words: reading, playing, learning, reacting and writing. Sometimes I mix up the order, just to keep you on your toes.
Care to join me?
Reading
No time for reading this past week—I was too busy responding to life’s curve balls.
Writing
I’m starting research for an article and retyping an old manuscript.
Learning
It’s easy to think I can’t do something, especially when the task falls outside my skill set and life experience.
When called upon, however—when the need arises or duty calls—I’m discovering I can do far more than I think I can.
If you need someone to staunch a wound, for example, just call me. I have experience.
(There’s a story behind this, of course, but I’m not at liberty to share details. Sorry.)
Playing
See today’s article at The High Calling.
Reacting
I stood in a line at the post office, holding an envelope that needed to be weighed. While estimating how long it would take that one lone clerk to process the people’s packages in front of me, I glanced back at the long row of men and women behind me, their faces and stances exhibiting various states of anxiety. They repositioned boxes and fidgeted with padded envelopes. In front of me, people inched forward as the calm, methodical clerk called them up, one by one. To avoid eye contact with any of these strangers, I fiddled with my phone. No need to make someone uncomfortable. Besides, I just wanted to run my errand and get back home.
As we inched forward, the two women in front of me struck up a conversation, chatting about their work. June, directly in front of me, a retired teacher, described a book she was writing. The other woman, Kelly, said she worked at a school for kids with Asperger’s. Kelly complained about her tight shoulders.
“It’s from hunching over a computer all day,” she explained. “I’m the school receptionist. I love it, but it’s tiring.”
June plopped her box and padded mailer on the counter, then reached over and began massaging Kelly’s shoulders, explaining she’d traveled to South America and trained under a well-known massage therapist and knew proper technique to release tension. Kelly grinned and accepted this spontaneous gift from a stranger.
Soon, the clerk at the counter motioned for Kelly to come on up. June grabbed a scrap of paper and scribbled out her name and number. “I can teach you an exercise that will transform your body and keep you from holding in all that stress.”
“Thanks!” Kelly didn’t commit to following up, but took the paper and tucked it into her purse.
“Call me,” June said. “Seriously. Call me and I’ll meet you to show you that move. You can do it anywhere—while you’re outside on a walk or on the dance floor. It’ll transform you.”
“Sounds great,” Kelly said as she left, waving goodbye. June scooped up her packages and took Kelly’s place at the front counter.
I stood there, next in line, marveling at how quickly two strangers transformed from nameless faces to two very real people. I looked down at my package and wondered how many people yearned to be known, and how many preferred to be left alone.
I glanced back at the line again. A woman caught my eye and shook her head. I didn’t know if she was communicating frustration over the long wait or astonishment over the exchange between Kelly and June.
I smiled and nodded, then turned back to the post office clerk. He was motioning for me to come up; soon I’d be back in my car, driving home.
* * * * *
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Wha-aat happened where you had to staunch a wound? You? Your family? A friend? Maybe you already wrote about this and I missed it… yikes. Hope everyone is okay.
Blessings.
Family. I have not written about it in any detail publicly because of privacy request. But it completely consumed our week, so I got permission to say this. Everyone is okay now…now that the bleeding has stopped, of course.
Thank you for your concern!
A long time ago, I decided to try to overcome my natural reserve and shyness by talking to strangers as I was waiting in line, remarking on something funny that was happening, or saying just a few words to someone else about the wait, or their children. It has really helped me open up!
I learned from June and Kelly and now you and Hazel that the world would be a much warmer, more pleasant place if we chatted a bit with strangers. Perhaps the world would be less…strange, even.
WOW, too bad you didn’t speak up and get the ladies phone number so she could teach you those exercises. Next time, go ahead and strike up a conversation or join in.
I know…I regret that I will never learn the magic move!
You’re right–I need to overcome my hesitation and just chat.
what a beautifully told story, Ann. And now I wish you’d joined in and could give ME that exercise to relieve shoulder tension!!! Hope things are evening out for you now…
I know! I wish I had the exercise, too!
Things are slowing down, calming down, stabilizing, etc. Thank you so much for your concern.
What a fascinating exchange. It’s a real example of not treating someone as an obstacle or an inconvenience. I know that I dread the lines at the post office! Maybe I shouldn’t…
Nicely said, Ed.
Quite an unexpected exchange between those two women. It’s surprising … and encouraging, and it makes me think about some future opportunities that I don’t want to miss. Not that I’ll massage every stranger’s back, but still… 🙂 A lesson here for all of us.
Yes, the lesson is for me, for sure. I’m grateful if my silence inspires others to speak!
What an extraordinary thing to witness while waiting in the post office line. We’ve all stood there, waiting, but how rarely do we take the time to touch another soul? Wow.
I recently attended to a 30th birthday celebration for a new friend — actually the whole group of us (15 or so) are new friends. As we gathered around the wooden tables at TGI Friday, the desire to celebrate was ripe. I’m sure that we all long to be known — and celebrated.
That’s really common to all of us all of us, isn’t it.
How rarely do we take the time to touch another soul…or back? The image of you encircling those tables in hopes of connecting and pouring into one another inspires it even more!
What a week. Wound-staunching and Kellys and Junes.
I love the way life is relentless, and just. keeps. rolling.
Yes–one never knows what to expect! And so I found my mode is to not being too surprised and just deal with the next thing as best I can by God’s grace and strengthening.
I love your awareness of others. This piece has forced me into noticing the person standing alone…even when I’m in line somewhere. If a smile, or a friendly wave makes our wait into a little circle with a pleasant atmosphere…well how nice. Thank you Ann.
It was hard not to notice June! Those are not fabricated names–they introduced themselves to each other rather loudly, so we all heard. And June was directly in front of me. But my lesson learned was definitely to be pleasant, positive and open, for sure. I think I learned that from you, too, Trish. Some of your work stories illustrate a sensitivity to others–respectful enough to give people their space, but compassionate and tuned in enough to move in and listen well when someone opens the door.