Wednesday night, I was sitting and writing my blog about Joey’s birthday. And when I was done, I was looking at Facebook. I love Facebook. It’s a huge welcomed distraction to my day. I get to catch up on people’s lives. I get to read tips and tricks for everything from teaching to yard projects. I enjoy it.
I have a lot of Facebook friends, from family, to co workers to friends. The largest portion of my friends, are former students and parents of students. I love looking at pictures of graduation parties, students I had getting ready to move to college, getting their first jobs, engagements, weddings, new houses, babies, prayer requests that I always deliver on and just looking at people enjoying summer. Even though I am in the middle of the worst summer of my life, with enormous grief, it makes me happy to see others in the midst of joy. I know that might sound strange, but it makes me happy knowing others are having a night out of fun and friends, vacations, dinners out, walks on the beach…..because maybe, that means that soon, it will be my turn. In the wait, I am filled with joy for them. I know I am weird, lol…. if you just stated reading here, I am weird. Accept it, I have… lol… I often think I get more joy from people photos of things than they did.
Scrolling past the drama filled ones because I can’t handle those right now, my eye caught a post from Dr. Jack. He was away on vacation and the person who was going to attend his Business Networking meeting was not going to be able to make it and so he needed a last minute sub. I actually made Joey giggle as I typed, “Pick me! Maybe you don’t see me down here because I am short! Jumping up and down, pick me!” You see, I never ever everrrrrrrrrr get to do anything for Dr. Jack. And if you know me in reality land, you know how hard that is for me. “Mom,” he laughed, “You are sounding desperate.” We both giggled, a welcomed relief to the mood at our house lately.
The truth is, I am a giver, not a taker. I like to do things for other people. Now don’t think that means, that I cannot graciously accept what others do for me and I am sooooooo happy that they are so kind. It’s just I like fifty fifty relationships. You do a favor for me, and I want to help you as well. My relationship with Dr. Jack is more like I take and take and take……But it is hard sometimes to always be the taker and never give back. And when it comes to Dr. Jack and a few other people, that is what it feels like. They constantly give to me and I don’t give anything back.
So here was, finallllyyyyyyy, this great opportunity right in front of me and I wasn’t going to take a chance that someone beat me to the punch. So, yeah, I could do desperate. I try not to text Dr. Jack when he is away, especially with his family, but I did anyway. He was happy that I offered and said, “Yes,” The only glitch was that he hadn’t prepared anything for me, pffffffttttttttt… I laughed! I could write a book about Dr Jack, no problem. One little fifty second commercial? Please, little does he know I could stand up and do an hour and half presentation without any notes, without everrrrrrr running out of material.
I got up bright and early, and headed off for the 7 a.m, meeting. I know teachers who are off all summer are groaning but I haven’t slept in once anyway. Between the baby’s death, Shannon’s death a month later, and all the stress, and grief, and just trying to stop my racing mind, sleep is an issue I need to work on and quickly.
Since I have subbed for Rob a few times,and was a guest once, people are starting to know who I am. I like going, and if I ever am so fortunate to actually own a business, one of my big retirement dreams, this is the place I would want to be. It is the most positive, uplifting group of people you could ever want to meet. I love talking to all of them, hearing about what they do, taking cards to pass on to people who ask me if I know someone who…… Yes, they are all about attracting and building their business, but honestly? That’s not what makes them great.
My favorite part of every meeting is actually the end, where they go around and talk about business they either received from another or business they are sending each other. Why I like that so much, is the beautiful heart warming stories they tell of people who really needed help and they sent them to another person there, knowing that the other would really care. This room ranges from every kind of business imaginable and come from all walks of life. But their main objective is all the same, treating their clients as friends, as family. Every single story at the end of the meeting is about that, and as a casual observer of human behavior, I wish they would stop,to look at each other’s faces durning this portion of the meeting. Someone bought a new business and their faces erupted in smiles for the person. No one stares at their phone or doodles, they are all focused on the one talking, really listening to the story and as they go around the room, the energy gets stronger. They sit up straighter, they smile more. They feed off of it.
It is a room of positive energy where a group of people have forged bonds of friendship and support for each other, and I love being there soaking it all up. I have suggested to friends who own businesses to think about joining. A few have told me they went to other groups and the atmosphere was different. I keep telling them, they really need to try this group.
At the end, many approached me to kindly tell me I did a good job for Dr. Jack, even though I flop through as best as I can, a duck out of water. After all, I am a teacher, not a business person. But what truly warmed my heart so unexpectedly was that people hugged me, and expressed their condolences to me. How did they know? People that I only know through meeting here a few times, listened to my summer story and cared about me. They kept telling me how strong I was and asked if I needed anything. Some said they had no words but offered help if I needed them. People I only know through showing up to sub? I wondered how they even knew of my tragedy, but then several mentioned that they read my blog! I was humbled….. what the heck do I write here that they would even be interested in. They touched my heart and lightened the load.
Later that day, I even received a few friend requests on Facebook! How awesome is that? As I drove home, feeling better from all that happened. I thought…. wow…. here I thought I was the one finally doing Dr, Jack the big favor, and it turned out that once again? It was he who helped me…..