A Few Words...

I climb the stairs at my fitness center, guiding a cane too. One step, two step, three...someone is behind me. I sigh and suppose they are moving slower, to match my slower pace.

Then come these simple words:

You are doing great.

Ah, my heart melts a little.

Thank you.

And I turn to face him, this kind stranger. His smile is easy.

We part ways, with that fast exchange. No more than a second, the time it took him to speak these words to me.

But for me....the memory will last much longer. Filled with pride then for my exercise, thanks to this stranger's simple words.

You are doing great.

Second by second, we choose our words, skipping through our days.

And these words can be daggers, suddenly like a flash, to ourselves or another. When we are annoyed by a small grievance or a very big. bad, big, big matter. I am praying in my car, out loud, sweet and lovely. Then another driver cuts me off and my words bite harsh...

...what the?!?

We soothe our dog, then yell at our children; we soothe our children, then yell at our cat. That isn't your scratching post, no no no! But where can the cat scratch, Mom? I don't know, not here! The telemarketer calls: Please put me on the do not call list. Answering our phones again, with a tinge of impatience or a dose of good cheer for a friend...

...hello?

We exclaim, I am so happy you called, really. Time stands still, our to do lists vanish...as we decide to tell someone that they matter, not rush. But after we hang up there is some random criticism that hits hard and fast, bruising our hearts...right up until dinner time when we sit with our people, voices pitched then to love from some sudden satisfaction. Cheering them or ourselves...

...you go girl.

Until this girl forgets to do something. Something important and I cry out...

...why girl why?

Second by second, breath by breath, words are our choice.

To use our beautiful, gorgeous voice, to say...

...you are doing great, you are doing great, you are doing great.

So I turn to watch this happy man walk away. His words echo in my head as I walk to my car, drive home, all the way to the next day when I decide to say...

...it is time to walk again!

Fifteen minutes is better than nothing. It is a start, it is something...

...you go girl!

Photo by Curt Paulsen