This morning I had an appointment at the cartorio notarial to sign a document. I’m flying to the US on Monday, and if my Portuguese residence card arrives while I’m gone, my partner will be able to collect it for me.
Just one more piece of paperwork necessary for the adventure of living abroad. It’s been on my mind this week as I line up all the documentation I need to (hopefully) return back home.
The notarial is about a 30 minute walk from the apartment.
I thought about taking an Uber. My time is precious, after all. But I decided to walk.
It allowed the space to move and think without needing to do anything in particular.
I remember a meditation guru saying, “If you don’t have 20 minutes to meditate, you need two hours.” The same might be said for taking the extra time to walk somewhere.
On the way home, I passed by the Intermarche’.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman with stringy hair and a dirty face, and a young boy sitting next to her outside the door. The boy’s hands were covered in some kind of sticky treat and he seemed to be talking to himself. They looked like they could use a bath and a safe bed.
The woman was half-heartedly asking for money as people passed
I was walking briskly, like the New Yorker I am, intent on getting to my destination. I had places to go and things to do.
Then something in me said: Turn around. Give them some money.
I heard conflicting voices in my head telling me it’s a good idea to ignore “people like that,” you don’t know what they’ll do with the money, you’re in a hurry.
But the instruction was strong and clear: Give them some money. Now.
I still could have ignored it, but I didn’t.
So I turned around.
I wished the woman bom dia, handed her the ten euros I had in my pocket, smiled, and continued my walk home.
I don’t often give money to people on the street. Doing so feels “not me”.
I may never know why the urge was so strong in that moment, but I know enough to follow the nudge when it shows up.
It’s not my job to understand; it’s my job to say yes.
I’ve found that the nudges are rarely dramatic. They don’t arrive with a fanfare of trumpets or a burning bush.
They’re easy to ignore and explain away.
But when I listen…
…I never regret it.
I’m curious.
Have you ever had one of those nudges you couldn’t quite explain? Did you follow it?
I’d love to hear your story.
Yours in love and play,
Steph 🐲❤️
