Serendipity

Serendipity is when an unexpected event happens that is not planned and has a positive result. I was traveling on vacation in Costa Rica, enjoying the freshest Ceviche I have ever had at a small random restaurant along my journey; when I had this random encounter with a stranger that I still think about today.

Finishing my meal, as I always do, I started making small talk with the friendly young Costa Rica server. He had stunning blue eyes and was engaged in the conversation pleasantly. I asked him about his home and talked about how he travels on his motor bike for an hour each way to work every day. I was impressed and could see he was so genuine. Bringing up home I could see in his eyes he was hurting, a pain that was fresh and raw. Tears in his eyes he told me he was going home, and in his words, “he was not good”. I listened and let him talk, I could quickly tell this conversation was changing, I stopped everything and showed him I was fully listening. Trying to control his tears, he blurted out, “I lost my grandfather last night and I am not good, so going home.” I touched his wrist and connected eyes with him, being in shock myself of how this raw emotion came into my table. I reached out held his wrist for a second and fully acknowledged his sadness and pain, simply saying I am so sorry for your loss, he smiled and relaxed.

I could tell immediately just a second of feeling completely seen and having his grief acknowledged I changed his ride home that day, as well as his loss story. Within a few minutes, he was leaving the restaurant on his bike, waving back to me as he head home. I smiled mostly, because I got to be there for him in that moment. I felt so connected to that stranger for a moment and now felt like he was a friend, just by a brief connection. I see now that was my sign and message, I am on the right path pursing my end-of-life doula work.  That day I received a small reminder of how a little humanity and comfort can change the way people feel in this world, and I can do that.  I recognize that this is my gift, and I was meant to be there for him that day. Serendipity, it’s sometimes hard to see but it occurs in the most unexpected ways.