Enjoying the Wealth Available When We Are Present................. 4/1/14

"A single day is enough to make us a little larger." Paul Klee

    How was your day?  Work went well.  But I am in a fog.  A good one.  I continue to wade through what I encountered Sunday.  The main thing is that I am
happy.

     Last Monday, after seeing clients in San Leandro, I parked myself within a restaurant to write follow-up notes for recent sessions.   I was at a booth in the back of the place.  A young man, fit,  with the round, muscular shoulders of a gymnast, sat in the booth next to mine, facing me.  

     We started talking.  He had plenty of questions.  I folded down the screen to my laptop and stayed present with him, going wherever the conversation would drift.  (Note: when we control conversations---something I don't care to do---we cannot be authentic, nor will we experience intimacy.) 

      After fifteen minutes he asked, "Can I join your booth?"  I nodded. 

      He sat across from me.  He plied me with questions.  It amazes me, the intense conversations I have with absolute strangers.  We spoke for forty-five minutes.  Eventually, he excused himself, leaving into the dead of night. 

      Before he left, he asked if we could meet for a session.  We booked an appointment for later that week.  He showed up on time, with us having a productive time together, he had greater clarity.  He arrived care-worn, leaving radiant, even smiling, along with an Action Plan of practical steps he will apply, between then and our appointment this week. 

      Today, it happened again.  Inside a diner, standing, I waited for someone arriving from Castro Valley.  Someone within the crowd snagged and greeted me, a big smile on his face.  His future we discussed.

      The most valuable thing we can offer others is not our money.  Nor gifts.  Nor flattery. The most valuable thing we offer others is our time. Because when we do that, we are actually offering something more than that. We are offering our lives.

"What man should fear is not death. What man should fear is never beginning to live."     Marcus Aurelius

      Connecting, relating, caring, looking into a  person's eyes, and affirming them with our facial expression--- having love apples in our cheeks----is a rich time.  This is truly living. I am wealthy beyond measure. And for that, I have an Attitude of Gratitude.

      Well, what happened with this fellow?  The woman I was awaiting appeared. But, before we parted, this young man said, "Pablo, I can't help it---" then wrapped his arm around me, embracing me, along with giving me a big smile. There in front of everyone in the eatery, even.  Wow.  Gosh.  Life does not get better than that. We were meant to live in caring connection with one another.  I love my life.

      Tomorrow, this fellow and I are getting together.  We will look at issues preventing him from enjoying life fully. So, how is your day?

My Gratitudes: 
1.  I will sleep well tonight.  Exhausted, I am.
2.  I spoke with a woman I knew but we had never talked much, before.  The result were mixed. I was glad.  It was a great reference point, allowing me to appreciate the healthy friends I have.
3.  I went to the DMV, submitted the paperwork to get my car registered, getting the tag needed.
4.  I look forward to my future.  My life is invigorating as it is, my future will be even better.
5.  I was "on" today, during two sessions.

Wishing you a rich day, full of gratitudes, providing you the connection and authenticity needed to enjoy an Attitude of Gratitude.

        The Innkeeper