Its A Small World After All

I am not one to allow obstacles or hardships stand in the way of accomplishing my goals, but I must confess that my encounter with Mike last week caused me to feel uneasy about my next pursuit. My passion was still intact however alongside that passion sat newly formed feelings of doubt and uncertainty. I was determined not to allow these thoughts to take control as I hesitantly walked down the street in search of someone new. As I stood on the corner waiting my turn to cross the street I saw in the distance three familiar faces. These people were a family, and it was my encounters with this particular family over the past few years that inspired me to create this blog. Although they had no idea who I was, they had affected my life in great ways. All negative feelings erased from my mind as I stood on the corner staring in their direction. I stood still for a few minutes completely mystified by the impact this family has made on my life, and thought it funny that in their eyes I was nothing but a stranger. The universe works in mysterious ways.

My first encounter with them occurred several years back. It was early morning and I was on my way to school. I was stuck in traffic and noticed a middle-aged couple asking each passing car for assistance. At first I didn’t give them much thought, as being a witness to homeless people had quickly become an insignificant and everyday occurrence. Then, I noticed something. Behind the couple sat a little girl in a yellow wheel chair who appeared to have some sort of mental illness. I had never seen a family, especially one like this, living on the streets before. Seeing this family for the first time consumed my mind with confusion and forced me to see a reality I had never before imagined. I decided to call my dad. I’ve always had a special connection with my dad. Anytime something is on my mind, I need guidance, or just feel like talking, he is the first person I call. Our wide spectrum of conversation ranges anywhere from philosophical talk of spirituality all the way to jokes in which my mother refers to as “bathroom humor,” but we find hilarious. My dad and I talked as I slowly drove through traffic. It was hard for me to understand how two parents caring for a child with a disability were able to survive with no real home. This family needed help. It was the first time I was able to see the effects of recession with my own eyes. I hung up the phone as I got to school and though still disheartened, put this family out of my mind. Thinking about them would only upset me so I stopped and continued on with my day. They were nothing but a distant memory, that is, until our paths would cross once again.

Six month later and miles down the road I had my second encounter. I was leaving my friends and had stopped to get gas. I walked inside to pay and the first thing I saw was the little girl. She had a huge smile on her face and was giggling while looking at someone directly behind me. Knowing her living situation I wondered what exactly it was that made her so happy, so I curiously turned around to see who or what it was that gave her such joy. Her dad was behind me and was searching through a cooler filled with ice cream. He finally picked one and proudly held it in his hands while waving it in the air as he approached his daughter. At that point in time, nothing seemed to matter to them except for a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich. I watched as he grabbed coins out of his pocked to pay for the treat, and tried not to stare as they sat together outside and he helped her eat their newly purchased treasure. I had never felt such happiness from ice cream before and became a little envious of their appreciation for such an insignificant thing. The immense everyday struggle this man goes through to care for his daughter and ensure that she see beauty our world, despite their current situation, boggled my mind. It also represents the point in my life in which something deep inside me changed, enabling me to view the world differently than I had before. I drove out of the gas station filled with empowerment and hope, with the man and his daughter being the culprit.

Flash forward to present day and there I was, standing on the corner awkwardly staring ahead at the family. I was in a reflective state as memories and realizations were rapidly flying throughout my head. I started to walk in their direction in attempts to make a connection only to find myself stopped after a few short steps. After much consideration, I concluded that meeting this family wasn’t the right thing to do at this point in time. This family has come to represent a lot in my life and has stimulated my mind to be more open to new thoughts and ideas. I realized I was the one who had lessons to learn from them, not the opposite. I stood smiling in their direction for a few more minutes, and then turned around to go home. I felt true happiness but most importantly blessed for the simple fact that this family had yet again, changed my life.