Just a few moments ago I had the pleasure of receiving a gift of someone smashing my car.
I saw it all happening in slow motion and tried to warn the other driver of my presence with the car horn.
But... cruuunnnch, the sound of metal on metal and glass on the asphalt let me know I was a second too late to warn the person who was reversing at full speed into my car.
Naturally, my first gut reaction was frustration.
It's Sunday, and the last thing I wanted to be doing today with my time was filling out insurance paperwork in Spanish.
On top of that, my mind quickly raced through the mountain of things I still had to do before taking off to Greece... now a trip to an auto body-shop was on that list (and that's not close to where I live)
How could someone not check their rearview mirror?
For a moment I bought into the frustration and the duality.
But then I took a deep breath, and found my alignment.
...I reminded myself of a recent deeper commitment I have in my life: to own my reality and show up as the best human being I can for others, especially in times of need...
... I reminded myself that this moment wasn't about me, but about this other person who is most likely now having a worse day than mine, and if there was anyone who could improve their reality it would be me.
I got out of my car, and noticed the lady coming out of the other car feeling flustered, holding a cigarette in her hand, apologizing and shaking from the shock of her mistake.
I could tell she felt guarded and stressed out and was expecting me to give her grief for her incompetence.
Instead, I looked at her and smiled warmly, I put my hand on her shoulder and said "Don't worry, sh*t happens, what's your name?" while intentionally sending waves of instant and complete forgiveness from my heart.
Alba and I pulled our cars over and did the paper-work thing, I cracked a few jokes as we filled things out,
I had literally just set an intention moments ago to find a good topic to write about that was short, sweet, and powerful for this week's newsletter.
I suddenly realized this was it, it was delivered as a broken bumper and headlight on my AUDI A6 on a Sunday.
I started laughing at myself, the universe always delivers.
Noticing my smile, Alba's dad came out of the car and we shook hands, we all started having a good time together as the blistering hot sun beat down on us.
...just a few human beings crossing paths through fate and circumstance in a fleeting moment that is normally filled with tension and hostility.
The whole thing took no more than 5 minutes, and I made two new friends in town.
I used to think of myself as someone committed to changing the world and making it a better place, and that I will do that through some great achievement or mission.
I am still committed to that, but I have realized that it's through moments like this that one has the greatest impact and that the mission is woven together through these moments and you impact those around you through those moments.
Imagine what a different reality it would have been if I was a reactive and aggressive a-hole in that situation?
Even in times of strife or disagreement we always have a choice to show up in our delusion, or show up as the True self and create a whole new reality.
I believe we create the new earth by the example we set for others through how we show up, there is no other way.
Each moment is a blessing and the people who come into your life are a gift, no matter what circumstances you meet or find them in, treasure them, and treat them the best you can because even those closest to you one day won't be there and no insurance claim in the world will give you even five more minutes with them.
Kacper
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