LIFE

You never know how your words and actions can positively affect those around you. This is a post that I have been wanting to share for quite some time.

I had taken the photo above on Laguna Beach over a year ago. I occasionally jaunt there if I have to go to Los Angeles for work. Laguna is amazing. I have been a few times alone but it’s a place I can sit quietly and think in peace and plan goals. There are tiny little hummingbirds that I get up for at 6am to photograph in the sunrise. They flicker around in the shrubbery as the waves crash in down below the cliffs. It’s my Happy Place. I have a favorite hotel and eating spot. Laguna Beach is my jam. But I digress…

I had been treated poorly by a person or two in the weeks before my trip to Los Angeles. Beware miserable people because those are the ones who will spread lies and try to undo your joy and success. Unless they are well-minded they just can’t help it. Misery loves company. I had sat back quietly, and watched as the whole thing unfolded. I do not want to go into too much detail but I will say this…. when someone tells you something scandelous about another person, be wise and verify before acting upon the intel.

I received a phone call which really hurt my feelings. This third party individual, was not operating with any level of reasonable discernment so she acted on on the bogus intel and said very hurtful, untrue things. I was in the middle of this episode when I had to take the mainly work focused trip to Los Angeles. After work meetings for days, I treated myself to some personal time in Laguna. I recalibrated, yet was a little depressed from that as well as weeks of chronic neck pain from a recent car incident so I wasn’t doing my best.

On the plane trip home, I was my typical quiet, no-eye contact self. I do that to not get tied up. I find once I make eye contact…people think it’s a ticket in. Next thing you know, someone is trying to sell me into joining their multi-level marketing thing or buying $2,000 skin care system or whatnot. I am also shy, so it’s a defense mechanism. I had very few friends in school – actually, none so I grew up accustomed to being alone, and ignoring others who were rude or mean. I wasn’t the cutest girl, so people were mean. Whole other story for another time. It comes off as rude now, so it’s something I am working on but that’s where it was born.

In the two seats next to me wear 2 black girls. One had pink hair and bright green clothing on, the other looked all business. Pink hair girl started talking to me so I offered some of my gummy bears. I travel well prepared. Are there any other grown ass women that carry gummy bears while traveling? Maybe not, so she thought it was funny. Pink hair and I had a nice chat in which I learned she was a college educated person who hated her job so she quit for one year to pursue dancing and acting. She was a Christian because she made reference. She had gotten a call for a major dance audition, which was her reason for pink hair and the trip to Los Angeles. She was super sweet and I would have enjoyed her friendship long term. The other girl was an executive in her field and had taken vacation time to see family. I thought it unconventional that she traveled in a suit in today’s world of pajama travelers. She was old school class from another dimension. Her job was boring and stuffy. She was soft spoken about her accomplishments. Both girls were impressive. They could carry a conversation about the arts or business and social issues. They were focused and genuine and if there were a plane crash, I’d want to be with them and go where they were going afterward.

Business suit girl was busy writing in her notebook during the journey. Lord, she was a success and imagine that! People who write shit down are always the leaders. Randoms who live by the seat of their pants are rarely successful or live intentional lives. This is a constant conversation in my life because as I try to train and develop people at work or in life…this is a constant issue that holds people back from living their best life. However, to get back on point…after business suit girl finishes some of her writings, I get a small, two page letter passed to me from her window seat.

Can you say uncomfortable!?! What was this!?! The letter started off with… “Daughter of The Most High God, for you are such a Jewel in the Heavenly Father’s eyes. Many have misunderstood you and because of this they did not know how to love you or embrace you but the Father has chosen you and created you to be unique on purpose…”

I won’t share the entire thing because it’s sacred to me. The point is that her little gesture meant a lot to me at the time and was a reminder that I needed right at that moment. I have never fit in, and have never had a desire to. It’s not who I am. I am different. I am interested in many different types of things. I am not one dimensional. People are not used to that. When the incident happened, I was disturbed by it because it was so mean spirited. My appearance was insulted, my integrity and my business acumen. The worst part was that it was all lies. I can deal with a lot but I can not stand it when people lie. When you are a liar, you are nothing. Your word is meaningless and you do not exist in the spirit of reality. Sick people think simply saying something out loud makes it true. I loathe the term my truth is that…such and such. People that use that term kill me. What you believe has zero effect on reality. People often give their viewpoint, but when I ask what research they did to come up with their viewpoint…I typically get a blank stare.

My point here is that something is really wrong with people who make things up. I was really down about the event of meanness. I was basically told there was something unpleasant about my face and that I was offensive. It’s the only face I have so I was hurt to say the lease. The funny thing, is the person who started the whole attack, was really weak in the looks department. So after I got over my initial hurt and shock, I realized the source was a bitter, unhappy person who didn’t have a lot of joy in their life. Other things about my existence were attacked, but the point is, I was just in the middle of dealing with hurtfulness…and this sweet girl gives me this special letter which warmed my heart.

I want to be more like her. We all should be more like her. The world she be more like her. With the direction the world is going, that is doubtful. I am a Christian. That means that I believe in God. It does not mean I am perfect or Christ-like. It simply means that I am a believer. The other stuff still needs some work. A day will come where we can’t say that out loud or on line. Bloggers certainly shouldn’t have a deep opinion about much of importance or then you are cutting out a percentage of your possible base. I don’t care. I am proud of my belief but I don’t beat people over the head with it unless they ask. Being loving is what we are here for. Nothing else. That is why this girl’s letter to me was and still is so important to me. She wanted nothing. She expected nothing. She took a moment to get outside of herself and somehow know that a stranger needed encouragement.

But whoever does not make Me known in front of men and acts as if he does not know Me, I will not make him known to My Father in heaven. MATT 10:33

The mean girl who started all of the hateful drama? I needed to realize that my life looked really good to someone who was struggling with day to day. My biggest problem from the outside was trying to agree on where our next vacation would be. What she didn’t know was how bad my neck pain was and that getting out of bed in the mornings was a job within itself. We all have our burdens. We had a new house, a recent vacation to Paris and I have a really nice looking husband that loves me. That’s what she saw. The sort of Instagram-perfect life. It takes a lot of planning and work to get to point where your life doesn’t suck. I can only assume jealousy and insanity are why she lied all the time about me. Meanwhile she was doing all the types of things she accused me of – sort of like a Democrat. Sorry. Not sorry.

I really have wanted to share that story. The letter is still posted on my fridge today. I always thought people were saying that they were better than others by the term, Daughter of The Most High God. I get it now. She was a Daughter of The Most High. Without a doubt.