Small Favors

It’s summertime in California, and the beach which is a five-minute walk from my home is a favorite place for barbecues and birthday parties. And so it was, that my neighbor invited us to hers, with the simple invite of a time and the name of said beach.

Husband and I set off on that Saturday, a couple hours into the party time. As soon as we arrived, I was gobsmacked–I’d never seen so many people at “our” beloved beach!

However, I knew if we just walked the length where the tables and benches were, we’d find her. Having gone the entire direction one way–except for the beginning part (we had skipped over due to a glut of people), I figured she must be in that part, so we were heading back to the starting place. My husband said, “But what if she’s on the sand?” I had not considered that. The beach itself was cluttered with more blankets, umbrellas, and groups of people than I’d ever seen in my 30-ish years here. There would be no way to find her, as our cell phones don’t work at the beach.

I stopped to snap a photo of the huge crowds. At that moment, walking by was our neighbor, greeting us with, “Are you coming to my party? We are on the sand over there!”

This had been at the end of a week where my husband had driven me to the doctor’s office (as I fractured my arm in May & still can’t drive) for a check-up on the bone healing progress. He drove my car as it’s not getting much driven–so once a week or so he uses it. We came out of a happy appointment (good if slow progress on the healing) to my car–with a dead battery. We were in a lot where cars faced one another and since we were faced “inward” towards another car, there was no way anyone could get into our space to give us a jump. That meant calling AAA for help, and thus probably an hour wait.

Not 15 seconds after we discovered this fact, the woman owning the car facing ours walked up to get in her car! Given the position of the cars, she was the only one in the lot who could have given us a jump–and she did so with utter patience and kindness, not minding the inconvenience.

I have been walking a lot, now going to many places I am able to without driving (I am lucky to live near the beach, a library, and a health food store–what else could I need?!). This week I headed over to the library and food store and then had an unaccountable fatigue that overwhelmed me. I’d not had this before on these walks…and I was not sure I could walk the 25 minutes home. Just then, a lovely metaphysically oriented couple I know walked up. Upon sharing with them, I mentioned how I felt and they offered a ride home. In all the times I’ve walked there, I’ve sometimes hoped I’d see someone I knew for a ride back–but I haven’t before, and this was the first time I actually needed it. They also gave me a tiny crystal angel that they said was imbued with strong healing energies.

These three simple “favors from the Universe” may not seem like much in light of the incredible swell of darkness and trouble our world is facing in these times. And, they may even seem like privileged “first world” issues. However, I believe that our own lives, with details however small, do matter…and that noticing synchronicities, noticing help, noticing places of ease and support, and being grateful all make a difference not just in your own life but in an outward radiating manner, bringing more grace and ease, hope and appreciation, to the larger story out there.

What “small favors” have you received recently? Perfect timing, uncanny synchronicities, help just when you needed it? Or? Please share your stories below–no matter how small they may seem–they matter and add to the bouquet!

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