“You have a beautiful smile. Never stop smiling!”

~ Old man in a black hat,
Fairfax District of Los Angeles.
Saturday, April 3, 2010.

Have you ever had one of those moments that showed it’s significance later?

Black Hat Guy passed me on the street one block behind Cantor’s Deli on Hayworth and never even slowed his pace, just said what he said and kept moving. But his timing was impeccable.

The next day was Easter Sunday and the day a close friend chose to end his life. Those words, spoken by a random stranger who did not even know me, came back so often in the following weeks, months, years, as another friend and then another chose to leave and I worked to regain a sense of balance, and grounding, and peace.

Never stop smiling!

Thanks, Black Hat Dude! Your words remind me that there’s more to life than just my interpretation of what’s happening at the moment, that there’s more to me than just this human body with it’s worries and problems and stories it tells itself. There’s a light within! Good to know on those days that it burns a little less bright.

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~Albert Schweitzer~

Question: What’s your significant moment?