Saturday morning miracles. And Love.

This morning I got up super early and took a long drive. There was the slightest chill in the air as I drove through the curvy Carolina mountains. I ended up in one of my favorite places and it was so early there was hardly anyone around. I sat in the stillness and watched the morning sky unfold.

As I got back in my car, I spotted a wild turkey crossing the road. She was so stately and sure of herself. (I’m not sure if this turkey was a he or she to be honest but he or she knew she or he was beautiful.) This turkey stopped in her tracks and I swear… smiled at me.

It was all so beautiful — it took my breath away.

When I got back into town, I went with a friend to grab some lunch. While we were waiting on our meal this young woman walked in and my friend leaned over and quietly said, “Is it creepy if I tell her how beautiful she is?” “No!” I said, “We all need Love from strangers, it’s the best kind of Love in some ways.”

That exchange with my friend reminded me of one of my favorite experiences of all times. About 13 years ago, I was going through some tough stuff, you know life stuff that tosses you off balance for a bit of time. Each day was a bit of a challenge for me to be honest. I’d worked hard all day and decided that a sandwich from Publix might be good for dinner. I also needed a few other random groceries. It was pouring down rain. I mean the kind of pouring rain that made an umbrella completely irrelevant. The kind of rain that made you wonder if the roof of the grocery store would suddenly just cave under the pressure. Everyone looked a bit like me, tired, damp and a bit annoyed with it all. Everyone wanted to be somewhere other than a brightly lite grocery store at 6pm on a rainy Tuesday night.

I stood at the deli line quietly pondering my sandwich order. I was content being in my own little world. Just thinking about my sandwich. Suddenly a beautiful young girl about 10 or 11 looked up at me and gasped. She completely surprised me by shouting, “Look Mom, she is so beautiful!!!” I looked at her and her Mom. Both smiling from ear to ear. This little girl had Down Syndrome and a joy and a light in her eyes that will stay will me forever. Her Mom mouthed. “I am so sorry” as her daughter pointed my way and continued to exclaim to anyone and everyone who would listen, “Isn’t she beautiful?! Isn’t she beautiful, everybody?”

Everyone was suddenly smiling and responding to this little girl’s amazing light and energy.

All I could think to say as I leaned down to look her in the eyes was, “You are so beautiful, too, sweetheart.”

It was over almost as quickly as it began. But the store was crowded so a lot of people had seen this simple joyful unexpected exchange. As I made my way down each aisle after getting my sandwich everyone I encountered that had seen this tiny random act of Love, looked at me and said, “You are so beautiful.” And I would respond with a smile, “You are so beautiful, too.”

That experience was magical. It changed me on the inside if I am being honest. It was such a reminder that we should and could be like that young girl; open hearted and full of joy and Love for each other.

I adore this quote from the Dalai Lama and remind myself of it often. ‘The mind is like water. When it is turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear.”

There’s such beauty around us. Morning stillness and early sunlight. Random strangers. Acoustical versions of our favorite songs from random artists. Flowers that pop out of cement sidewalks. Kind words from friends or our family just when we need them.

I hope you choose to take time for all the beauty that’s right in front of you today. I hope you look at strangers with Love in your heart and eyes. I hope you choose to focus on all that is good. And joyful. And amazing. There will always be struggles. There will be that mean person who cuts you off in traffic. Or the person snarling about the prices as they pump gas.

Ignore them. Don’t give them your time or your precious energy.

Seeing the beauty around us can magically calm our collective souls. And clear our minds. I think we all need more of that.

So look for the Love. Look for the Beauty. Look for the Magic. It is always, always there.

I hope you know this too, you really are so very, very beautiful to me… With Love and Joy, Robbin