Have you ever stopped in your tracks to ask yourself: How did I get here? Such a rankle may lead to annoyance or to laughter. For me, last Monday broke the record when I stopped twice or thrice. But, who is keeping score?
Well, this cause for pause led to my own discovery series. You see, it should have been a mini Monday morning business trek to accomplish well-coordinated personal goals. It would include doing a blood test and purchasing supplies so that the workers could complete the project at home. Yes, it would be so quick and easy that I would get to work before they missed me. I would still have a near perfect record of being the near-perfect professional. Moreover, at the end of the day, I would be able to declare it a Marvelous Monday! Whoo-hoooo!
Undoubtedly, it all started out fine. Marine Gail rolled out of bed, did exercise, rolled out of the house on-time to do school drop-off and then got to the laboratory in Cross Roads to be among the first in line. Only, when I entered, it was more like the twenty-first or fifty-first in line. No worries. I still had my bravery coat on and we still had time before the other places opened. So we breathe and wait. We breathe azure-blues and graciously go through the motions.
Despite little hiccups, the blood test was done and I glided to the next location. My husband and I got there so early that we waited in the parking lot as the employees arrived. It felt good to know we would be among the first in line and then I would zwoops to work. The plan was intact!
Fortunately, we were second in line. Yeah! Someone on the telephone was first. Aaaaiii sah!
Next, our 15-30-minute trek multiplied as we discovered the supplies we needed were either sold out or in short supply. How were we going to solve this puzzle? Time ticked and trickled. Oneil, who assisted us, exemplified customer service par excellence. There was much to be thankful for. When time ticked past an hour, we reluctantly stopped the workers from coming to our house. Still, we had reason to count blessings.
Incidentally, our day became infused with phone calls my husband began to receive. As he fielded each one, my day changed from azure to lovely lilac to morose mauve; from sangria to jammy grape or, was it plum prune? I listened and said not a word. It was obvious that he was dealing with very important matters.
By the time we returned to our car, he explained the situation. Our day’s mission changed to finding a portable oxygen machine for our sister. He emphatically declared that there was no way I would be delivered to work before that mission was accomplished.
Of course, I am a reasonable person too. I understood the time of day, the traffic and, obviously, the urgency outweighed my desire to pee, to eat and, of course, to get back to work. Seriously, I could have offered to take a bus or a taxi but I swallowed the whole of my “auber-genius” and strapped myself in for the ride.
Trust me when I say I kept quiet. I kept quiet. I kept so quiet that I even zipped it when my bladder protested. I believe my husband saw the shape of my aubergine face while he juggled calls, for he kindly detoured so we could find a safe and clean bathroom.
The first time I asked myself the question How did I get here? came after I walked out of the bathroom relieved and ready to reassess my situation. Having no specific place to go, I stopped in the middle of the concrete jungle. By this time, the noon day heat sizzled. My hunger was even more real. My disappointment was becoming mauve.
Quite surprisingly, swaying specks of white came into peripheral view. I paused. By the grill was a stalk of teeny tiny blooms. They were rooted in a garden which is no bigger than about 2.5m X 5m. Although it is right at the threshold of this busy building, I wondered how many pass it throughout the day without recognizing it? I assume even fewer realise that these evergreen plants bloomed.
Lingering brought the realization that this mini space fulfilled purpose. Truth is, this compact garden promotes well-being daily. Even when we don’t recognize it, the mini garden is impacting lives.
How did it get here?
How did I get here? This was not on my Monday To-Do List.
I seized the opportunity to take deep breaths and release. I observed the leaves. I allowed myself to be fascinated by its weight, shapes and patterns. I wondered about the gardener(s). I absorbed the breeze when it broke the intense heat. I took photos of the zillion tiny petals. I marveled that even here someone had thrown a crumpled wrapper. (Trust us humans to add the ‘imp’ to perfection.)
Consequently, I became thankful that we had the opportunity to be a part of someone’s answered prayer by locating the oxygen machine. I transitioned to troubleshooting for a way to get the machine to the country as soon as possible. The more I breathed in life, the more I could “give” life.
Without the whole aubergine in my mouth I could empathise with my husband when he let me know his trek to the pharmacies in Half-Way-Tree was futile. Also, I could graciously agree to having lunch before moving to the next place.
The very next time I had reason to ask myself, ‘How did I get here?’ came in the parking lot of the Hospital Supplies Store. That day I became Columbus. Can you guess what amazed me? Well, in all my days, growing up in the city of Kingston, I have been unaware of its existence. Bear in mind that this company is older than me too. Yet, it sits on a main thoroughfare without being a famous landmark.
Inside mesmerized me. The variety of things they sold or rented seemed endless. Truth is, we don’t need to know of their existence till we need them. It’s like insurance or even the mortician. Who wants to have that data readily on hand? Only the person who needs it at that very moment. Similarly, when we visit a doctor or nurse we don’t care to know where they accessed their tools. We only focus on the benefits.
Just as I leaned back to observe the space I made another discovery. There, among the zillions of metal and plastic items, was a lush pothos plant. How strange! I thought. Now, how did it get there? How does it thrive here?
It brought smiles and a reminder to breathe and release. Breathe and … “All we have need of is already provided…” says Peter, the apostle, and T. Obediah Chisholm, the hymn writer.
In a periwinkle blush, I was prompted to ask me, myself, and I, How on earth, did I get here today today-day*? Asking that question inevitably challenged me to remember my own sense of space and purpose in life. Even though I am not always where I want to be, I can still be in the right place and time. I can still make a subtle difference. I can also thrive. The garden, the hospital supplies store and, now this potted plant highlighted that.
Imagine what it would be like if each did not remain true to their calling or purpose. Aaaiii! It would mean that at the junction of need there would neither be supply nor impact.
So many times in the haggle, hustle and bustle, we miss this. We even miss the ability to appreciate the opportunities we have. We sometimes neglect the tools we have. Or, we overthrow the relationships we value.
Have you had a similar experience? How do you respond to the question, How did I get here? Will you share in the comment section?
As a result of these experiences, I could truly declare at the end of the day that it was indeed a Mauve-el-lous Monday! Would you?
*today-day- In Jamaican parlance we repeat certain words for strong emphasis to express deep emotion or disbelief or urgency.
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