Treat #73
: Letting Things Come to You
People ask me how I am able to just sit and stay present while people work. My answer is…practice. I once was a not-able-to-sit-still-for-two-minutes girl. Why is it important to learn to focus your attention on this moment and simply be here without distraction? The answer is simple, because all things are then brought to you. Today was a magnificent example of that for me.
I was driving to Los Angeles to meet my friend, Eva, who was flying in from Germany to visit me. From the moment I drove out of my driveway it was as if the day was lined up to perfection and elegantly served. Before taking each step throughout the day I listened inside and was told what to do next.
Forty-five minutes into my drive to the Los Angeles airport, I had the knowing to call British Airways to check if the plane would be arriving on time. I usually take my chances at the airport but I this time I paid attention to what I knew. I found out the plane was delayed an hour. Rather than spending that hour at the airport I chose to listen for an alternative. I surprised a friend (who is in a nursing home) with a Latte. I handled some of my “Mom’s” (as we affectionately call her) affairs for her and while I was there I had an important conversation with a nurse regarding her care. Being able to have a face-to-face conversation with this nurse would ordinarily have taken a while to arrange because of my travel schedule. The nurse happened to be there on Labor Day, of all days. All in all I had a lovely visit with my friend and then listened as I heard “time to go” to the airport and I left.
I arrived at LAX and parked at the arrival curb. I asked people coming out of the terminal if they had come off the British Airways flight. When I was not being successful in finding passengers from the flight, I began thinking things like: how will I ever find her in this crowd as we didn’t agree on a meeting place? Instead of continuing those kinds of thoughts, I listened instead to the next step which was to simply move the car. I thought I will drive around the airport circle but again I focused my attention and listened and drove into the short term lot and directly into an empty spot right across from the terminal. I crossed the street facing a mob of people coming toward me and again heard that voice…How will I ever find her? Immediately I focused my attention on finding her. I walked into the waiting area overflowing with people and went to the area where people were coming out from Immigration and there she was right in front of me. It was one of those “awe” moments. I giggled inside realizing when I let go and relaxed into the present I walked right to her. I remember friends saying, are you nuts driving to LAX on Labor Day? Thank God I ignored them as I would have missed a magnificent moment.
Later Eva said to me: I was wondering at first how you would find me and then I realized I would simply allow myself to be found. That is what completing and focusing attention is all about—allowing ourselves to be present in the moment and available to the next action finding us.
Martha Invitations
1. Practice relaxing and listening versus trying hard to figure out what to do.
2. Trust the process and let things be delivered to you in perfect timing.
3. Listen to what you tell yourself and change direction if it is off course.
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