Lend Me Your Ear

Anyone who truly knows me, knows I love to have fun. I love to laugh and make the people around me laugh. I love positive energy and vibes, and genuine conversations. I have no problem sparking up a conversation with strangers. And sometimes, strangers have no problem sparking conversations with me. I can’t tell you how many times I’m out and about and someone just starts talking to me about serious, personal details in their lives. Seriously, I can’t make this up.

One day, I had just come out of the nail salon getting a mani and pedi, when I decided to go a couple doors down to this Thai restaurant (sidebar: if you are ever in the Atlanta Metro area and want some good shrimp tempura or fried crabstick sushi, head on over to Rice Thai located in Stonecrest. You will thank me later.). I placed my order then went back outside to wait (Covid procedures at the time) when this lady came from the restaurant next door to Rice Thai, stopped a few feet away from me, and began telling me about a medical condition she had.

At first, I had no clue she was even talking to me since I had my earphones on my head and was talking on my cell to one of my best friends. It was my best friend who made me realize the woman was actually talking to me because she could hear the lady’s voice in the background. Well, I pulled one of my earphones off my ear and inquired about what she’d just said to me. Needless to say, I opened a window that gave her the freedom to get off her chest her issues, concerns, thoughts, opinions, and facts she had concerning her medical condition. All the while, this stranger was talking to me, my best friend was in my ear telling me to tell the woman to get away from me. She voiced that I was always picking up strange people who always want to talk.

I didn’t rush the lady off. I ignored my friend, and listened as the woman released all she needed to say on her condition. I voiced my thoughts here and there, but for the most part I lent the ear she seemed to need in that moment.

I’ve learned over the years that sometimes you are a vessel for people you encounter. We all come into one another lives for a reason, a season, a lifetime. For some reason, it was meant for me to be there in that moment to allow that woman to release what she was feeling. If I was to play devil’s advocate, maybe had I gone and sat in my car to wait for my food and not been in position to allow her to talk, she could have been in an car accident because her mind was preoccupied, or maybe she could have gone home and decided to take a bottle of pills to end the pain and suffering she had been living with due to her medical condition.

Whatever the reason, I am glad I was there to be a listening vessel for her. I believe I did my part to bring some form of comfort or reassurance that even though all wasn’t well for her in that moment, she could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The next time you find yourself in a situation such as this, don’t be so quick to turn away from that person. Be a vessel for them. Not every stranger you come across has a negative agenda. Sometimes they just need outlet, a listening ear, and most of the time, they need a new perspective from someone who knows diddly squat, absolutely nothing about them.

Until next time! Smooches! 😘