Just now, a lovely young barista took her break, and sat next to me.  We chatted about nurturing ourselves, about making us our first priority, regardless of what others or society thinks.  A man, probably in his late fifties, with piercing blue eyes sitting across from us was intently listening, while poring over a map.  One of those ‘old-school’ paper maps, that you unfold.  

He overheard me say I was in Greece years ago, and said he lived there for years.  We talked about how the lifestyle there was so much more healthy and relaxed.  People lived more in the moment, and spent more time savoring the sensual joys.  There seemed to be less stress because they took time off daily from work each afternoon for two or three hours.  Stores closed down to practice the daily ritual of rest and cuisine.

In fact, he was taking time off from his job because the stress sent him to hospital with a serious case of hives.

So, now he was traveling domestically, taking road trips, starting on the East coast here.  He just drove down from Massachusetts, his current residence.  So, now he was considering going back up the coast, or maybe going to Colorado, where one of his children lives.

In that moment, he looked at me as if he wasn’t sure what to do.  So I asked what his heart was telling him.  He said, it was to go out west, starting with Colorado, and then maybe California.

I enthusiastically responded, “Then that’s where you should go!” Adding with a hearty laugh, “Go west, young man!”

We talked for a while about allowing ourselves to explore new places, and follow our joy.  It seemed he needed permission to do that, because he was feeling guilty and wondered if he was being irresponsible by taking time from work.

I said, it would be irresponsible not to,

So, as he left, and I was getting my coffee refill, the young barista and I agreed that the man was lovely to talk to.  That it seems he needed validation to do what his heart wanted.

Within moments he came back in from his car to thank both of us for helping him to make the decision to go west.  He was glowing with joy.  As he left again, we both cheered the amazing synchronicity.  We felt a rush of joy, the kind you feel tingling throughout your body, and shared it with an old school, high-five.