The Universe is Listening

I’d like to share a unexpected, synchronistic experience I had last week. Lately I’ve been reflecting on the coming years. I’m feeling a bit rudderless. My husband has worked hard and earned his retirement and the privilege of spending days doing what he pleases. I certainly worked hard while raising our children, but that hasn’t been my reality for a while. I’m feeling increasingly uncomfortable in my skin. How can I be productive? How can I contribute? What should I be doing now? These are the thoughts that have been / are occupying my mind.

Now here’s the weird part. I was walking in a local area state park, trying to take pictures of birds. An older gentleman stopped to chat with me. He had the hint of a British accent, a twinkle in his eye and, while he walked steadily and upright, he carried a cane. We talked a bit about the hawks in the area, about his work with music and how he loves to walk in the park every day. He then moved on. But moments later, he turned back and handed me a card. He said that he was giving the card to me, not to share his name and to make an introduction, but for what was printed was on the back. This is what I read.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy.

It is to be useful,

to be honorable,

to be compassionate,

to have it make some difference

that you have lived

and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wow. What a weird, unsettling, amazing, and beautiful encounter.