To the year I found my pen...goodbye to 2010

This post isn't so much about an interesting stranger I've never met, but rather a reflection on the "strangers" I've faced throughout the year. Sometimes you can't really form a new relationship with someone until you examine your own life, even if that relationship is only with a perfect stranger.

And when you start examining, you begin to find deeper meanings between the random encounters you hold with people. When you start to understand your life, you begin to understand the lives of others.

So, this is my reflection of 2010.

I can't help but smirk when I think about how far I've come, who I've become, and what I've learned in the past 12 months. So much has happened, so much has changed...but more importantly, I've changed. Navigating through troubled waters, I reached the calming sea's peaceful rainbow, and for that alone, I will forever be thankful for the year 2010.

I can honestly say that I've grown tremendously in the last year alone, becoming a stronger, wiser, more responsible adult finding her way in this crazy thing we call life. My year, unlike any other, can be traced and understood through my writing. For it shows the ups and downs of my life, discovering moments of both discouragement and inspiration, glorifying the Lord while cursing my gift, and learning who am I and who I'm becoming each and everyday.

And as I reflect on the past year, I become more and more thankful for the heavenly-sent angels that guided me through it all. For if it wasn't for the father's light shining brightly within some of his most precious children, I would have never been able to find my way through the dark.

Strangers became friends, friends became enemies, and enemies became strangers. Sometimes you've just got to let go, let God, move on with life and move on to find the people that will really matter to you. Because every once in a while, a perfect stranger becomes a best friend.

To the year I found my pen...goodbye to 2010.

Here's to 2011...to all the strangers we'll meet and to all the friends we'll gain.

Here's to the joy of meeting a perfect stranger.

<3

My "Older Twin"

Sometimes we intentionally put ourselves into situations with the sole purpose of meeting new people. I mean, that's the entire point of social networks, isn't it? We sign up for these sites to meet people, to "network," to find others with common interests--all for the sake of getting to know another person you may have never had the opportunity of meeting.

Whenever we attend a social gathering, a convention, a seminar, or even a sporting event...we're putting ourselves in an environment with the opportunity of meeting new people. And when you thrust yourself into this type of environment, you're bound to find others with vast similarities between yourself.

In my case, it was a retreat.

This is the story of the girl I could see a part of myself in; this is the girl I could see as my "older twin."

You see, this girl and I ran in the same circles, had common acquaintances, common friends, but never really talked...never really met. And when we both found ourselves on the same spiritual retreat, it was really like meeting a perfect stranger. We talked about life, God, friends, family, relationships--and in the end, I felt as if I was looking into the mirror and discovering myself four years down the line.

But it wasn't exactly our experiences that were necessarily the same, but our outlook on life and our view of the world. This was the head-turner that made us both realize that our minds turn in the same direction and our hearts beat at the same rhythm. Discovering how much we truly had in common made me feel like our souls were linked from the very start.

But you see...this isn't really story, now is it? I guess not every encounter you have with someone has to have a story. Sometimes, the story comes after the spark that starts a new friendship. Maybe the best story I'll have with this girl, who was once a perfect stranger, will be somewhere down the line...but she just won't be a stranger anymore.

Alas, the joys of meeting a perfect stranger.

<3

"The Change" Woman

Meeting a perfect stranger can be both a memorable and enjoyable experience. But sometimes, it can be quite uncomfortable and completely awkward, especially when they share too much about their...interesting lives. Some people are a just a little too open and are more than willing to share with every gruesome detail.

This is a story about that awkward woman who gave me a little too much information.

This particular woman was coming into my office as a volunteer for a day, something my company offers quite frequently to help give the team a little peace of mind in times of chaos. They usually help pick up the odds and ends of the marketing department during busy campaigns, and really help us sail through troubled waters.

Needless to say, she was a little more than enthusiastic to be volunteering her time.

You see, her 8 year-old son was currently away with his "baby daddy" for the week, giving her a "much needed break" from the role of motherhood. Additionally, her boyfriend was going out of town, and she was fortunate enough to inherit the keys to his ocean view manor to "house-sit" while he was gone. When the son and the boyfriend are away, the woman shall play!

And this alone time was definitely needed, in fact it was a necessity. This 43-year old Italian woman was, or "is" I should say, going through "the change." And this time away from her boyfriend as well as her son was exactly what she needed to regain her strength.

Oh yes, my friends you are correct. This woman really did explain to me, in depth, all about her menopausal changes...in an office...upon meeting me for the very first time. And if that wasn't enough, she also felt the need to describe her upcoming rendezvous with her conveniently wealthy boyfriend, and her need to return home to pick up a "special" gift for him before he left for the week.

Now, I can be a very open-minded person. It really doesn't make me uncomfortable when people share their many bodily functions and desires; however, there is a little thing called too much information. Or at least upon initially meeting someone.

Keep in mind there is also something called decorum and proper work etiquette. Although she was quite a character and made my work day much more amusing, it wasn't exactly the most appropriate time or place to be having a conversation about her hot flashes and her "steamy" romance nights.

Needless to say, I hope she enjoyed playing house all to herself while her boyfriend and son were away!

Oh, the joy of meeting a perfect stranger.

<3