unedited for 100 days. Day 5

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. I do believe this. It's so easy to get caught up in the 'what should I do?' or 'what should I say' or 'when should I call'. I think we underestimate the power of just being in a room with someone. Sharing space. Sharing a moment.

I was traveling around in Costa Rica and I found myself renting a beach house in Pavones,  (actually it was more of a hut than a house but it was steps from the beach and had everything I needed). The family that owned the house would come around every day, with their two kids, to check on the property and make sure I was okay. Many days we would end up swapping stories over a beer enjoying the chance to get to know one another. One day I had received an email from my family back home that my grandfather was in the hospital and close to passing on. Of course it was difficult being so far away. Papa seemed in good health when I left a couple months back and I was expecting to pick up with our lunch dates as soon as I returned. With little else to do, I shared this news with my new friends and walked towards the beach to sit on my favorite rickety bench so that I could let the tears fall. The husband came and asked if he could sit down. I said yes wiping my tears, preparing for conversation. But he never said a word. He simply sat next to me so that I didn't feel alone. We must have sat there for an hour in complete silence. I remember the sun had set and I thanked him. He knew that it wasn't words of wisdom that I needed, but instead just someone to sit next to. I will always be grateful to him for teaching me the power of such a simple gesture.