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Dear Reader,
I never know when some small thing, a few words, or turning left instead of right, is part of the big plan. Maybe I was supposed to get lost this morning; maybe I was supposed to change my schedule and take a detour.
It reminds me of the reader who emailed: "Your column today, it gave me the courage--I'm calling my dad." I didn't know exactly what it was that I'd said, but I must have been willing to write those words when I felt that little nudge.
It's a strange thing when it happens and it's not an every day event. But sometimes I get this feeling, this restless, gentle tugging inside of me. It's not a resounding call. In fact, if I ignored it long enough, it would move on and see if it could find someone else who was willing to help.
I don't always know the person, nor do I have any idea what I'll be doing or saying when we meet, but it's clear--from that little nudge, that there's an opportunity waiting for me. The question: am I willing to listen and deviate from my usual routine?
When I do, it's one of those perfect moments. It was meant to be.
I stopped in his office for business advice and in the middle of giving me some great ideas, he stopped and said, "I'm bipolar, did you know that?"
He continued on with three or four more sentences about his bipolar disorder, how it affects him, and then he went back to our original business conversation.
I hadn't known about his disorder and I didn't mind hearing about it, but it seemed like a strange detour--but you know what was even stranger? Later in our conversation, before I left, I detoured back.
"I have a friend," I told him, "she's bipolar too and she's been struggling a lot lately. Maybe it would help her if she talked to you?"
"Give me her number and I'd be glad to call her."
Ah, that was why we took the detour. It's so obvious now, but this morning, I hadn't a clue.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com
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