Just Passing By
I saved people from buying the wrong bread the other day in Trader Joe’s. They were having a big discussion about bread as I walked by and had landed on a decision, but they still seemed uncertain. I am quite familiar with the various bread offerings and their qualities and since they seemed new to Trader Joe’s breads, I felt I was being asked to assist. I pointed them in another direction and I felt their appreciation because I know that I would have been appreciative so they must be.
I thought that the above was perfectly normal until it was pointed out by a friend that her take on herself was that she would almost stalk people in the Goodwill by holding up fashion choices or good buys. When she told the story I thought, “Ah finally, someone who gets it,” but then realized that this was not a positive healthy story she was telling. At least not in her estimation. It set me off to think about how much more far reaching my codependence is, just when I thought I was on the mend.
Or is it? The world is full of questions and uncertainty. I have stood in a store and been flummoxed by my choices. Which one is better, more attractive, tastier or a better deal? Choosing some item while out alone in the world can be overwhelming. We cannot always be with friends or consultants. I believe I would have loved input from the universe in the form of a fellow shopper in many circumstances.
That is how I view it. Input from the universe. It is not just me blathering on about my personal choices, but perhaps I have been designated as a messenger by the universe, God or the heavenly help line to assist my fellow earthlings. In that moment when I hear confusion, questioning, despair perhaps I am meant to hear it because my job here on earth is to answer the questions. After all, your guardian angel cannot be on duty 24/7 even though we believe that is the job description. I am sure there are meetings they must attend or workshops to keep up their professional hours. Who stands in? Perhaps it is a group of earth messengers that hear the cry and step in to assist.
We must be special because I notice a lot of people just keep walking as if they have no idea of the chaos right in front of them. They cannot be that obtuse or uncaring that they would not stop, listen and insert themselves into another person’s crisis. Who does not love to hear a complete stranger say,
“You look fabulous in that, buy it!”?
Or,
“Don’t get that one, it falls apart in no time. I know it’s cute, but it won’t last.”
Have you not been in a strange town and wondered where to eat? I try to have a number of choices available so I can cover most food groups, although I am lacking in vegan options. Luckily for my masters, I can do this in a number of American and foreign cities.
Need directions? I am here for you. This is not as important as it was before Google Maps, but sometimes that last little, “down this hallway and turn left,” input will get them right to the door. My internal GPS is good enough that again, I can provide this service along with parking locations in a variety of cities and countries.
Is it codependent? At this point I think everything is and then again, continue to question whether it is simply helpful and friendly, a thing any decent person would do or is it intrusive and unasked? Currently, I am going to stick with the whole messenger sent by God thing because there are people out there that need me.
