friends | Pick-Me-Up Pearls

“People come into your life for a reason, season or lifetime” – Author unknown

I repeat this saying all the time noticing how people come and go in our lives. My brother described it perfectly yesterday when he told me people were popping into his life and helping him in different ways. “It’s weird, he said. I don’t know how it happens. It’s like there’s magic dust in the air.”

That’s how the universe works. It sprinkles people into our lives at just the right time when we need them. We throw an intention or need out there and we’re magically connected with just the right person at the right time. Sometimes it may be a perfect stranger, chance meeting, and the only time you’ll see them. Others are only with us for one leg of our journey – during childhood or college, maybe it’s a first boss who mentored you, or someone who supported you during an illness.

There’s actually scientific evidence showing the EKG of one person’s heart can be measured in the EEG of another person’s brain. In other words, one’s emotional energy registers in the brainwaves of another. I think the key is to be aware of your feelings and sensations when people come into your life. There may be a reason why you “bump” into them or they pop up. It continues to amaze me the incredible people I meet who make life more meaningful. I am forever grateful for friends who walk with me in the sunshine and dance in the rain.

“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” – Emma Goldman

My spark of inspiration today is from the warmth of friends we visited this past weekend in Virginia. With roots in Columbia and Venezuela, their lives are enmeshed in the cultural tradition of strong family connections. Their three daughters are kind-hearted and gentle spirits who enjoy doing yoga and meditation with their Mom. Although we haven’t seen them much over the years, we are their extended family. When the youngest asked her Dad, “What are you doing Papá?” he replied, we’re sitting outside talking with our friends.” She corrected him and stated, “You mean our friends.”

We were all able to let go of life’s hustle-bustle and relax for three days. We stayed up late and slept in even later. We feasted on eggplant and zucchini lasagna, chilaquiles, and tortes made together at home, then dined by the river side in the shade of willowy trees. I helped make granola for the first time and later smiled watching the girls bake cookies while singing a Venezuelan love song. Walking around the neighborhood, we kept track of the number of squirrels, birds, butterflies, dogs, and different states license plates. At the park, I ran for the swing and floated high in the sky as if I were a little girl again. We jiggled on the wobble ride to the Beach Boys’ Fun, fun, fun song. We meditated, contemplated new opportunities, and focused on the importance of mindfulness. It was refreshing to just enjoy simple pleasures of life.