Looking For Angels

Here's something to let go of . Ready? Let go of thinking that you have to do everything yourself; that no one cares about "it" the way you do; that you're alone. You're not. So why do so many of us act like we are? The fact is, there are all sorts of people out there who can help us - and would if we gave them half a chance. But of course, we're too busy doing everything ourselves, too busy looking down, to see someone's wonderful face appear out of the blue and hear a voice that says, "Hey, let me help you with that!" Or, "Here, take my seat!" Or, "The number on the cab was 047." That's exactly what a wonderful guy, an angel, actually, named Dan Blodgett, said to me at O'Hare Airport in Chicago one afternoon a couple of years ago. And in a way, he sort of saved my life. Well, okay, he saved the day. But at the time, it seemed like my life...

Here's what happened: I'd pulled up to the baggage check-in area in a cab and said to the driver (unfortunately, no loudly enough) that I'd go around to the other side of the cab to get out my stuff. I got out of the cab, closed the door and started around the side when suddenly, the cab took off...with all my stuff in it. And I mean ALL my stuff - my best suit, my most expensive shoes, my good jewelry, make-up, skincare products, all my work documents and you're not going to believe this: my purse. Yes, I'd left that in the cab, too. Dumb, huh? So that meant not only was my wallet gone and my credit cards, but my passport, too. It really was like my life was in that cab.

I ran after the cab screaming. Cars were honking at me, drivers were yelling, it was mayhem. But the cab driver was oblivious. He just kept going. I started to cry and shouted at the check-in guy that he had to stop that cab. "What kind of cab was it?" he asked. I had no idea. "Well, what was the number of the cab," he asked. I had no idea. "Well, I can't help you, then. Do you know how many cabs there are in Chicago? I'm afraid you're out of luck." I can't be out of luck, I thought. I just can't be.

And it turned out, I wasn't. I looked up, hoping for some little miracle. And it turns out, that was the cue for Dan Blodgett to show up. First, he scolded me for running into the traffic, then he introduced himself and then he calmly and quietly told the check-in guy the cab's number. Within 45 minutes, thanks to the countless calls Dan made to cab companies from the list given to him by the check-in guy, cab number 047 pulled up with all my stuff inside, safe and sound. "You're an angel," I told Dan Blodgett. "Not really," he said and disappeared into the airport.

I was so moved by the incident, so incredulous that someone could show up out of nowhere and make everything okay, that I started wondering if other people had experienced their own "angel stories." You know, those moments when they looked up to see someone offer to help pick up the contents of their briefcase which had somehow fallen out as they'd dashed across the street, or lifted their car out of a snowdrift in the middle of a blizzard, or given them money for the train ride when the ticket machine wasn't working, they had no cash and they were running late for a job interview. I bet you've got your own "angel story." Most of us do. But here's what I've noticed: Angels have a greater tendency to show up when you trust that they will. Skeptics or cynics don't have much luck attracting angels. So here's a recommendation for the still very new year: Throw out the old notion that you're alone and embrace the notion that you're surrounded by support. But of course, you've got to look for it, don't you? Because as it turns out, angels like most of us, come when we’re called.

Here are three simple steps for attracting angels:

1. Throw out the notion that you're alone. You're not.

2. Assume there are good people out there who would love to get your back. Let them.