I met a 90yo man over the weekend during Operation “do as much a you can while you have a babysitter” (my husband and I always work hard to reclaim our house when the giant 5yo is away). The man, who had questionable terminology that indicated he was from the way back, told me all his children’s business. Which ones are raggedy, where everybody went to college, and why the one that was with him is the favorite 😆.

People tell me their business. Deep dark, business. Like stuff that you write in a diary type of business. Perhaps it’s the leftover Paralegal residue on me or something spooky… either way, I’ve heard some things over the years that have shaped some of my choices in a way that I can appreciate. Cautionary tales and ghost stories are at the top of the list of the things I’d pick, but there’s never a choice.

Because I’m an empath I used to try and guard myself from conversations completely so I wouldn’t end up depressed about somebody else’s life. I care about what happens to people, that’s why I didn’t abandon watching Orange is the New Black when they killed off Poussey. This time I let this man say everything he felt like saying (even though he was holding up our mattress sale) and when he finished he just walked to his car with his family. He gave me advice on condos, went through his entire furniture evolution in their new home, and told me “don’t you buy a condo! You don’t own anything in the hallway”.  I wish we had exchanged numbers though in case he wanted to get rid of the white wingback chairs he said they have.

I said all that to say, the thing that I once considered a burden, I’ve come to understand as a gift. People unload all their information because they feel safe, and I’m grateful that I don’t look like a badly intended individual. I still don’t know how to turn it off, but now and then it gets me introduced to kind strangers that know cool stuff.  I’m grateful that people trust me with pieces of their life stories. I just pray that the magnet only attracts people who need a safe space and that it repels anyone looking for a sucka… because I was definitely still watching my purse around that old man 👀🤣.

diary healing journal life lessons writer