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Sometimes, some people will come into your life for just a brief moment. Years later, an imprint of that encounter will arise and burst open with seemingly fresh insights. A brief encounter might carry lifelong messages, as I learned from these encounters.
Back in 1964, a friend, Diane, and I went to a country dance hall on a Saturday night. An unknown singer and his band played great Western music, great dancing music. I danced (boot-scootin’) with most of the guys there, but one in particular sorta made himself at home and sat at our table.
To my surprise, so did the singer, Willie Nelson. He had only 4 songs recorded at that time. He’d sing a few songs, take a break, and repeat. Willie, also, without an invitation, sat at our table. During breaks, we’d smoke a cigarette and drink a beer, and repeat. When I think of that brief encounter, it reminds me that anybody can be somebody with persistence, perseverance, and a few lucky breaks (pun not intended).
Shortly after I joined Business and Professional Toastmasters Club in 1988, I was invited to join our local chapter of the National Speakers Association. In one of the early international NSA conventions, 1990, for some unexplainable reason, I was ushered to one empty seat in the front row, as we awaited a presentation by Og Mandino.
On my right, there sat Norman Vincent Peale. On my left, Zig Ziglar. I don’t clearly remember the entire content of the brief conversations with those gentlemen, but that day, I understood that success is about as achievable as one’s motivation would allow it to be.
One day recently I encountered a lady in an elevator. I stepped into the elevator and immediately the lady told me all about her woes and worries. I was thinking, “All I want to do is go up three floors to the dentist’s office.” But I listened to her concerns. When the elevator doors opened, she thanked me for lightening her burden.
There are many life-long friends from grade and high school I still keep up with. I am grateful for them. There also are brief encounters that leave life-long impressions. Some are very clear; others manifest at unexpected and weird times.
We are all companions on the journey.
-by Jan
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