I did a bad thing. OK, don’t freak out. It wasn’t on purpose, and I really do feel awful about it.So here’s how this went down. I was driving home from the Bay Area to Fresno after my last coaching program workshop, it was late, and I had decided to take some of the rural back roads to bypass traffic. It had been great, as usual, having a couple of hours to reflect and decompress after the intensive learning and personal growth that always occurs during these classes. I was listening to some old B52’s, singing out loud; feeling grateful for the learning and the people I had been learning with; feeling fortified and optimistic and motivated about returning to my life at home; when all of a sudden a cat ran out in front of me.There was nothing I could do. I swear. (Cue sickening thud.)Did I mention it was a black cat? HUGE black cat.So first thing to enter my mind after the horror wore off was, “What does this mean?” I’ve been known to be a touch superstitious, so of course the idea of not only having a black cat cross my path but let alone killing the darn thing was more than a bit troubling.But then I had another thought… “It’s a test!” I’ve been learning all about perspectives and how experiences in our lives have only the meaning we assign to them. I decided it was a test from the universe to see me put into practice what I have learned, and to make my own peace of mind my top priority. “Yes! I have the power to view this as an unfortunate accident, not a doom and gloom warning with the power to haunt me and screw up my week! There is nothing I need to be punished for! It’s a test and I passed!”So I’m cruising along, feeling good again, when I became aware of a strange sound coming from the area of my front right tire. Oh shit is right. The mental images of what was going on down there were not pretty.Another test, perhaps? In any case, I realized I needed to pull off, after all I’d just worked hard enough on maintaining my peace of mind that I didn’t want to die in fiery crash caused by a cat-induced tire blow out. So I gathered my courage, pulled into a gas station and prepared to face whatever gruesome reality lay waiting.My car must have been pretty noisy, because several customers turned to see what was happening as I drove in. One man in particular looked concerned, so I caught his eye and said, “I’ve had a bit of a cat accident”. He came over to help me, and as it happened he was equipped with a heavy-duty flashlight. We peered together up under the wheel well… A sigh of relief rushed over me. No cat. What we saw, however was that the mud flap and plastic lining that protects the underside of the car had been knocked loose by the impact and had become tangled and shredded by the tire. As it also happens, this man was equipped with a switchblade, and offered to help me cut the loose parts free so that I could safely drive home. He also checked the brake lines and all other critical functions to ensure my safety.I neglected to get this man’s name, but I did express my gratitude before I left. And on my way home this gratitude began to swell and I realized the true lesson of this experience.I believe that people are fundamentally good. It is so refreshing to come across a stranger who is willing to help another without thinking twice. Was it a lucky coincidence that he had the right tools on hand? Maybe. But the whole incident reminded me that we are all more supported than we know in this world. Even at times when we are not feeling supported by those in our most intimate circles, there are larger forces at work for our greater good. This experience was a beautiful reminder of that, and it inspired me to make it a daily practice of asking, “Who can I help today? What can I offer?” Because you know what they say… what goes around comes around.P.S. I’m really sorry about your cat.
Michelle Leath
