The People We Meet
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Our
lives are intertwined with conversations and interactions with the people we
meet along our path. Sometimes the people we meet improve our lives, or at
least our mood for the day. These are the people who are encouraging, cheerful
and positive. Like joy-on-feet, they come into our day and make us feel better
about who we are and what we are doing. I am sure you know some of these
people, and some names probably came to your mind.
Then
there are the people we meet throughout our day who rub us the wrong way. Their
grumpy, grumbly, negative attitudes stroke against our skin like a porcupine’s needles.
Like the sourness of a lemon, they come into our day and make us feel worse
about who we are and what we are doing. I am sure you know some of these people
and some names probably cam e to your mind.
And
though I meet people every day of my life, there is something unique about the
people I meet at the beach.
We
spend many summer weekends at a Lake Erie beach near my parent’s summer cottage, and for the
last thirteen years, we have met some very interesting people there.
We
have met Shovel Guy. He is a contractor with a dark tan and broad build who
brings his work shovel every time. He starts right in digging a massive hole in
the sand right near where the waves crash into the shore. When he is done, his
preschool children jump into their make-shift pool and splash in the water.
Then
there is Sand Castle Guy. He brings special sand-castle building tools and
spends hours building an artisan sand castle like you see in the movies. I am
fascinated at his skill and the beautiful dream he builds.
We
have also met Old Speedo Guy. This older gentleman (who should not be wearing a
Speedo, though that is my belief for every guy) comes to the beach to lie out
in the sun. We always seem him there and cringe when he gets up to walk to the
water to take a quick dip to cool off. Eeeeek!
Oh
there are many, many people we meet at the beach. We meet Snobby (and skinny) Bikini
Girl, with the perfect tan (and the body I wish for), Stressed Out Mom with
toddlers and preschoolers wining and crying and running too far out of sight.
Obnoxious teenagers throwing a Frisbee a little too close to our heads and
Bikini Grandma, who, like Old Speedo Guy should clearly choose better beach
apparel.
I
know that these people are more than what they look like, and I have not gotten
to know them on a personal level. But it seems like our lives are intertwined
none the less, with conversations and interactions with the people we meet, especially
at the beach. Sometimes the people we meet improve our lives, sometimes they
make us smile, and sometimes, like a sour lemon, they make us pucker and
cringe. You probably know some of both.
But
the best person I meet at the beach is Relaxed Trish, who is encouraging,
cheerful and positive. Like joy-on-feet, I find a more peaceful me at the
beach. And with every crashing wave and rhythmic sound, the stress of my life
fades. Maybe, if I take the time to focus on the blessings of my life, I can
bring more than sand and seashells home with me on our next trip to the beach.
For
more information, check out www.Trish Berg.com
Posted by Trish Berg 9:40 AM
