Life: Her Light is Honest and Kind.

Shipping my essentials from Atlanta to Mexico went smoothly, but I got hustled while the movers delivered my boxes.

A coffee table looked far too big for the room it was in. I asked two young movers if they would like the coffee table for their home. They nodded yes in unison and carried the table out the door and down the private lane. 

An hour later, a tall blond woman walked through the open front door, her right arm extended, a wad of money in her fisted hand. She offered an awkward "Buenas tardes" with a thick American tongue.

Sheepishly, one of the young men took the pesos then darted around the woman, and out the front door. I watched this transaction while raising my eyebrows towards her and silently asking, "Why have you walked into my home?" 

In response, more to the space the young man had occupied than directly to me, she said, "Thank you for the table; it fits perfectly in the space..." 

Watching the young mover's backside vanish, I smirked and said, "Wait a minute, did you just buy my coffee table?"

From what I could see, he'd charged her around two hundred and fifty pesos, twelve American bucks.

Lesson 1: I am an easy mark. 

Though I say this with humor and abundant grace, it is true. When married, I took for granted the physical covering and protection of a partner. I could hang back in the lobby when it rained or step from the car to the restaurant door while he parked and walked a tough neighborhood to meet me. Those days are no more, and the learning curve is steep. I have much to understand about the value of things, the art of making a deal, and even more about hustles.

Lesson 2: I am brave and resilient.

Life has recently provided me with many firsts: my first time moving alone, my first time living alone, my first time vacationing alone. The list is endless. I've learned to do the brave things, the honest but scary things, and to make choices that honor the deepest parts of me. I've learned to endure the tidal waves of change, find new and creative solutions, take calculated risks, and enjoy how instructive life can be when I embrace it unafraid. 

Life is going to laugh and kick my ass sometimes, but I am always going to get back up, a little dusty and a lot wiser. Her light is both honest and kind.