I am shopping in the local farmers market in San Isidro, Costa Rica on a sunny Thursday morning. I love this market it is, I believe, the second largest in the country. The selection of produce is exceptional!
I dropped my car off earlier a few blocks away at Firestone to get my oil changed. An hour into my shopping after collecting all my organic produce, I reached in my purse for my phone. I dig around searching and searching.... no phone!!
At first I feel the butterflies in my stomach as I think since the zipper was not zipped on my bag that perhaps my phone fell out or got picked up by wondering hands. I quickly reigned in my thoughts. It is only a phone. I know that my thoughts effect my physical state of being. If the phone was gone then so be it, all is well. It can be replaced.
I went around to all the venders I visited inquiring if they had come across a lost iPhone. The last time I remembered using the phone was at Firestone and I remembered sitting it on a table. That is where it must be.
I leave my produce at the farmers market at a friends booth. Walking out of the feria, there is an older lady in front of me walking slowly with what looks like very heavy bags in both her hands. I observe many people, squeezing by, passing her. I think of doing the same, thinking of my phone, then I hear a voice in my head say "help her".
I am consciously following my thoughts. I am being careful not to dive into the egos panic mode. I decide to instead do what "spirit" asks of me. I try to put the thoughts of God first.
In Spanish, I ask the women if I can give her a hand. She hands me a bag and we walk. She is probably in her late 70's and the bag I take from her is full of produce. I speak a little Spanish but it is far from perfect. We talk a little on our walk she asks about my mother and father, my husband and my daughters. She asks why I live here away from my parents. I try to explain how I ended up here but I'm not sure she understands.
As we come to a street corner we walk in the opposite direction of the mechanic. My mind wonders for a moment but then I ask "What is truly more important in this moment, right now?". The answer is clear. Help this lady and the next moment will be cared for.
As I adjust my thoughts I switch hands and carry the bag that now represents gratefulness. Gratefulness as I look over at this lady with a warm smile on her face. Gratefulness, my heart is filled with awe that this moment was a choice that was gifted me and I was conscious enough to accept it. Looking at our reflection in the shop window I see a tall thirty something Gringa walking with a women that has mothered generations of Ticos from this land that I now call home.
After many city blocks we come to her destination... a bus stop. I am in disbelief she was going to walk all this was alone! As I put her groceries down she says something I don't quite catch about God and an angel. I thank God for the blessing of losing my iPhone and for placing this angel in my path.
I walk back to the mechanic with a spring in my step and a heart full of gratitude! I ask, as they hand me my key, if anyone happened to see a pink iPhone on the table in the waiting room. "Sorry, no we didn't." I walk around back to my car unlock my door and sitting between the seats in plain view is my iPhone.
I dropped my car off earlier a few blocks away at Firestone to get my oil changed. An hour into my shopping after collecting all my organic produce, I reached in my purse for my phone. I dig around searching and searching.... no phone!!
At first I feel the butterflies in my stomach as I think since the zipper was not zipped on my bag that perhaps my phone fell out or got picked up by wondering hands. I quickly reigned in my thoughts. It is only a phone. I know that my thoughts effect my physical state of being. If the phone was gone then so be it, all is well. It can be replaced.
I went around to all the venders I visited inquiring if they had come across a lost iPhone. The last time I remembered using the phone was at Firestone and I remembered sitting it on a table. That is where it must be.
I leave my produce at the farmers market at a friends booth. Walking out of the feria, there is an older lady in front of me walking slowly with what looks like very heavy bags in both her hands. I observe many people, squeezing by, passing her. I think of doing the same, thinking of my phone, then I hear a voice in my head say "help her".I am consciously following my thoughts. I am being careful not to dive into the egos panic mode. I decide to instead do what "spirit" asks of me. I try to put the thoughts of God first.
In Spanish, I ask the women if I can give her a hand. She hands me a bag and we walk. She is probably in her late 70's and the bag I take from her is full of produce. I speak a little Spanish but it is far from perfect. We talk a little on our walk she asks about my mother and father, my husband and my daughters. She asks why I live here away from my parents. I try to explain how I ended up here but I'm not sure she understands.
As we come to a street corner we walk in the opposite direction of the mechanic. My mind wonders for a moment but then I ask "What is truly more important in this moment, right now?". The answer is clear. Help this lady and the next moment will be cared for.
As I adjust my thoughts I switch hands and carry the bag that now represents gratefulness. Gratefulness as I look over at this lady with a warm smile on her face. Gratefulness, my heart is filled with awe that this moment was a choice that was gifted me and I was conscious enough to accept it. Looking at our reflection in the shop window I see a tall thirty something Gringa walking with a women that has mothered generations of Ticos from this land that I now call home.
After many city blocks we come to her destination... a bus stop. I am in disbelief she was going to walk all this was alone! As I put her groceries down she says something I don't quite catch about God and an angel. I thank God for the blessing of losing my iPhone and for placing this angel in my path.
I walk back to the mechanic with a spring in my step and a heart full of gratitude! I ask, as they hand me my key, if anyone happened to see a pink iPhone on the table in the waiting room. "Sorry, no we didn't." I walk around back to my car unlock my door and sitting between the seats in plain view is my iPhone.
3260 Reads
- Posted by livingadelicious
- Apr 14, 2015
- Comments (12)
Readers Comments
msuewilkins wrote: I am impressed by your sensitivity to the internal voice that is there to guide you. We all have that, but often we don't listen. It is to our loss.
msuewilkins wrote: I am impressed with your sensitivity to your internal voice that is always there to guide. We all have that, but often we don't listen. You did.
peggyodat wrote: I have lost my phone too many times to count. And now instead of panicking, i will look for random acts of kindness. Thanks so much for sharing that.
SeaMar67 wrote: Glorious story, thank you!
melnotes wrote: Shame this story was cut short, you did a very kind thing :)
Mish wrote: Wonderful !!!
KindMyst wrote: I am interested in your story, I hope you can tell us more.
KindMyst wrote: You are kind in helping the lady with her produce bags and follow your voice to help. I sure hope you found your phone.
plschaffer wrote: I want to know more.....
terre wrote: Yes, I want to know more too. Please.
