Has anyone ever stopped you and told you their life story while shopping in a department store or grocery store... and they don't even know you? This happens to me all the time. I don't know why but it started happening a few years ago. Also, people always ask me which outfit looks best, which shoe, which nail color, it goes on and on. There can be a room full of people, and they will find me and want to talk; when I say talk, I mean a lengthy conversation. Maybe I have a face that makes people think they can trust me. Who knows.When I would tell my husband and other family members about this I would say, "Why me?" or "I am not the one. These people need therapy, not me." At first, I used to kind of awkwardly excuse myself by saying something like, "I'm really in a hurry right now." But it started to occur so often that I decided to just stop and listen. I would try to offer some brief comfort or advice.
I remember vividly, a few years back. It was the Fall season, I was returning an item at a store. The cashier was eating m&ms and she offered me some of her candy... strange, right? I politely declined. Then just before giving me my refund she said, "You got a minute?" I thought to myself, "Well yeah, I don't have a choice. You're holding my money!" So I said, "Sure." She went on to tell me about her situation and how she was thinking about canceling her Thanksgiving plans. I just listened, I don't even remember what I told her but I offered my opinion, she seemed to feel better and I took my money and went home.
You see, I started listening because a friend told me to stop resisting and allow God to use me. She said, "You never know how those few words you offer can help someone. You may not think so but there has to be a reason why this keeps happening to you." Ever since then, I've looked at it differently. Now, I just try to say something uplifting or reassuring. I want to be a positive force in this world.
This is one of the many reasons why decided to start blogging. I get the feeling that someone out there is listening.
