Embracing Authenticity


Shopping in a bustling grocery store on Thanksgiving Eve wasn’t how I envisioned my day off. A friend's desperate plea for turkey dinner ingredients, coupled with my inherent empathy, prompted me into action. While my empathetic nature has often led me into challenging situations, overcoming past hardships has made navigating present inconveniences a breeze.
Amidst the chaos of crowded aisles, I couldn't help but notice the sea of unfamiliar faces in what was once my sanctuary.
“Josh…?” A woman’s voice called out. My heart jumped.
As my head shifted toward the sound of my name, I instantly recognized the familiar face of the mother of a former high school friend. Her face had aged in the ten years since I’d last seen her, but she still dressed and carried herself the same.
"Hi… How are you?” I smiled politely despite the flood of memories triggered by hearing her voice.
I once overheard her scolding her son for hanging out with me. “He is a bad influence,” she said in her Indian accent. “You are too smart to be hanging out with him.”
That one always cut deep, but it was easy to shrug off since we both knew I made better grades than he did.
...