Your Intuition Is Your Teacher
Your intuition is your teacher.
It’s your built-in thermometer.
It’s your North Star.
It’s your navigation system.
It’s your compass.
It’s your road map/GPS/or whatever map you’re using.
It’s your find friends.
Listen to your intuition, and you might ask for advice less often. (Personally, my intuition is a tuning fork. That’s a story in and of itself.)
I work the opening shift at a local park district. I’ve found that the 5:00 am crowd is a crew of dedicated warriors. One member is 96 years old. The echo of one man waking up and going to the gym before sunrise while carrying a torch is a beautiful sight. The day he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow” — my heart grew.
When I found myself incessantly worried after not seeing him for several weeks, I placed a wellness call. When he answered — I elatedly said, “It’s Lisa! From the gym! I wanted to check on you!” He hung up.
I called the property where he resides. Why?
God willing, if I find myself 96 and strong enough to get to the gym each day — I will count my lucky stars if my absence is recognized by someone with the intuition to act and check in on me. I talked to a woman, recapped who I was, and shared my concern. She said she knew who I was talking about - and remembered he used to regularly go to the gym early and wasn’t sure why he stopped.
The next morning was dreary and raining, which kept many at home. Just after 6:00 am, I heard the heavy pull of the metal and glass doors. In walked the member I phoned the day prior. Watching him as he shook the rain and cold off was like watching rays of sunshine part through the clouds. My face lit up with an honest Duchenne smile. I held back joyful tears.
He worked out. As he left, I enthusiastically said, “I’ll see you tomorrow!” His back was turned. He didn’t respond verbally — yet raised his arm up. Maybe it was an act of strength and solidarity. Maybe he was annoyed and tired. Maybe it was simply a friendly wave. It was Rocky-esque. It reminded me of the final scene of The Breakfast Club.
I’ve seen him three times since.
We live in a world that encourages disconnection and separation. We are so focused on checking the boxes that we chase our tails and lose mindfulness. We’re consumed with the daily grind in an effort to be our best selves and often miss opportunities to check on each other for the sake of humanity.
When intuition calls — listen closely and — be prepared for guidance.