Changed

I went to Kroger last night to pick up my groceries after my WOD. In the beer aisle (of all aisles), I was stopped by a 47 year old man who asked me how he knew me. My answer, point blank, was "you don't." He tried figuring it out for a bit, continuing to be unsuccessful in his guesses, and the conversation took a turn to what I do for a living, what I do for exercise, what I do for fun, education, hobbies, etc. I guess my "resume" of activities isn't terrible, and he filled me in on his (he was a Marine who worked Presidential guard duty for Reagan and Bush, who was now divorced, alone, and overweight).

As he continued talking, I could tell he was sad, so I tried to reassure him of my favorite thing: if you want to make a change in your life you just have to start with one thing. I also gave him dating advice: don't date. Find something you love and do that and you will inevitably meet someone who is not looking for love, but looking to fulfill their passions. That leads to things in common, friendship, and potentially love. People fail at finding love because they look too hard for it and try to force it, not because they are incapable of it.

By the end of the conversation (which lasted probably 20 minutes), he told me that God put me into his life to help him open new doors. He told me that the 20 minute conversation changed his life, and he thanked me excessively.

It got me to thinking: who/what in my life has opened a new door or changed my thinking? This is important to acknowledge because I believe it has happened a few times and has altered the course of my life by changing the way I make decisions. My education has changed my life. My work in Asia has changed my life. CrossFit has changed my life. My friends have changed my life. Dan has changed my life. Even disappointment and failure and heartbreak have changed my life.

This train of thought led me to another VERY important conclusion: in order to continue to live happily, I have to continue to grow. In order to grow, I HAVE to allow new doors to be opened and I HAVE to change my thinking. To live life is to be changed. And although that guy in Kroger may truly believe I changed his life, I'm pretty sure his graciousness has changed my thinking... and that's the start to a brand new beginning.