The world is full of people with good intentions. Good intentions do not make a difference to our journey. Action does.
Years ago, sitting in a coffee shop by myself, I saw a young woman seated by herself at another table. She wasn’t doing anything in particular. Just sitting there, staring silently into the distance, occasionally wiping away a tear that had escaped her eyes and was running down her cheek.
I thought of going over to offer her a kleenex. Or to at least ask if she needed anything. Could I help?
I remember feeling uncomfortable. What if she got angry with me for my advances? What if she told me to mind my own business?
I did nothing.
I have carried my sense of regret of having done nothing in that moment with me since that day.
More recently, while walking at the park, I met a woman walking without a dog, who stopped to get her ‘puppy fix’ as we passed. I noticed she was crying.
Carrying the memory of that moment from long ago, I asked her if there was anything I could do. “You look sad,” I said.
“I am”, she blurted out. And she told me of the divorce she’s going through with her husband of many years. “I just feel so lost and lonely,” she said.
She shared a bit more and then, as we parted I asked if she would like a hug. She began to shake her head from side to side, and stopped. She nodded her head up and down. “Yes. Please.” she said quietly.
And we hugged. As we parted ways and walked in opposite directions, she called back. “Thank you!”
It was just a moment. But in that moment, we connected as humans connect when they take time to see one another, and stand together, heart to heart.
If I had noticed her tears and only thought about how sad she looked, and not taken action to create more of what I want in the world around me — peace and harmony — then I would have felt the regret of doing nothing.
That woman still had to face the sadness of her divorce, her sense of loss, her fears of being suddenly alone in her mid-life. But for that moment, she felt a sense of ease. Less alone. More connected.
Taking action doesn’t mean we change someone else’s path. It just means while on our own path, we do not have to carry the regret of doing nothing.
Dare Boldly 
ah yes – great points! And, I agree, if we see someone crying the might need a chat, might need a hug – and offering is a simple and free way to help those who will accept that generosity. My question is this: is shedding tears the only sign? I think the key here, in your stories, is not the tears – so much as the reaching out. Just because someone isn’t crying doesn’t mean they couldn’t use a kind word or a hug. Doesn’t mean they can’t/don’t want to be engaged in conversation. I’m just sayin’ …
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Absolutely Mark — we humans have many ways of demonstrating our need for a chat, a hug, attentive caring. ❤
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Great post – feel encouraged to go about my day and ‘do positive stuff’ rather than just think about it 😀 Thanks!
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Thanks for visiting and commenting! I’m glad this Act of Grace resonated with you too — I generally find I write things that I need to hear. 🙂
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Yes, me too – whatever I’m learning or need to be reminded of is what I write about – hopefully it works for others too. Glad I found you 😀
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Beautiful Louise!
Living Between the Beats, Judy Atkinson circlesofrhythm.com Cell: 403-862-5654
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Thanks Judy! ❤
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A bloody great post, that made me glad I came for a visit this morning
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And made me glad that you came to visit too JOanne! ❤
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Oh Louise. Wrecked me. In a good way:)
I have withdrawn from opportunities like that, too…not knowing what to do or say.
I think it’s beautiful to just go ahead and be awkward and risk looking intrusive. So brave.
Inspired I am. Learning, learning.
Thank you much. You are a bright light:)
-Jennifer
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I think Jennifer that there is an ebb of flow in our stepping into and out of opportunities like that. So glad we have flown together in this space. Much love and light dear friend. ❤
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Beautiful lesson Louise. ❤
Once I was at Buzzard's for lunch with co-workers and I saw a woman with a bold flowery print shawl wrapped artistically around her head. Her lips were painted in bright red and she looked so beautiful, inside and out, to me in spite of the fact that she was obviously battling cancer. I told my co-workers that I was going to tell her she was beautiful and they said no don't do that, don't intrude on her visit with the others at her table. My heart was pounding but I approached and asked her to forgive my intrusion but I just needed to tell her how she glowed, how beautiful she was. Her response? She thanked me through tears and told me that those words are exactly what she needed. Always listen to that inner voice, eh Louise? ❤
Diana xo
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What a beautiful story Diana — and I am so in awe of your capacity to listen to that inner voice, and take loving action — and yup. We must always listen to that inner voice. Love you my friend. ❤
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I don’t always listen, I wonder why…Love you too Louise. ❤
Diana xo
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I think it’s just being human Diana. We don’t listen in all our perfectly human imperfections. ❤
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Powerful post! I have been on both sides of that ‘hug’ in the last 18 months and you are so right, we should not underestimate the power of that connection to improve someone’s life. Even briefly, not solving the problems, but keeping people in the moment for that moment, it all helps.
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Wow Katie — love that you can see both sides, and feel the power of that human connection. ((Hugs))
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