grateful for the unexpected...

Today was fairly uneventful - though it has significance. I did not sleep well as I was worried about my friend Jeff. Jeff is an old boyfriend - we dated for 5 months from June to November of 2008. While we did not break up and immediately become friends we have managed to forge a friendship.

Jeff recently broke up with the "replacement" girl (I use that term to describe the woman who tried to replace me in any man's life - though admittedly the "replacement" may be more significant than I ever was). He is broken hearted and reached out to me for help. And, throughout the weekend I have spent hours on the phone listening to his hopes for getting her back, including editing the "please take me back letter" for him.

Now, while I am a life coach, I am a human foremost. Talking to Jeff about his desire to get her back hurt, bad. I think there is a part of every human, man or woman, hetero or homo sexual who wants to know an old flame wants them back. Here I am listening to my old heart throb describe his desires to get the "replacement" back.

So, are you asking me why I did this?

Last summer was BAD for me. Bad things happened, from two life threatening freak injuries, to arguments with the family to losing a job. Jeff was there througout it all. He was the one that stuck with me. There were also friends who came out of the woodwork to help me when I was incapacitated after surgery...people whom I would never have expected to help.

I learned that it is not always the expected people who will be there in an emergency. Sometimes the best friends are the ones you don't even ask for help - they just show up and do things you didn't even know needed to be done.

I helped Jeff because I care, and because I can pay forward what he and others did for me last summer.

While it hurt, it felt good. I am learning to live through gratitude. While I am a coach and I "preach" this concept - it doesn't always get "lived". Yes, I admit it. I like to think that is what makes me good at what I do.

I am grateful an unexpected friend thought of me when he needed someone.