It has been
almost
three years since I started at the Chakra Shack. I was always
interested in spirituality, but I never delve into energy work and
guides. As an eighteen year old I spent most of my time playing
basketball or building computers with my friends. Only at night would I
look up at the stars and imagine what else is out there. I did,
however, always analyze friendships and the connections people made. I
looked at relationships through a third person point of view, and saw
where people succeeded and failed to connect with each other. Through
this perspective I realized that what people need the most is someone
to confide in and trust when times get tough.
I was never the social type. I spent most of my time in my room
studying or working with technology. I only made a couple good friends
rather than several acquaintances. I trusted them to be there for me,
and they trusted me likewise. As for the rest of the school, I was
always open to their stories, but I did not expect them to be there for
me. With best friends there is always the expectation of being there
for each other, so we quickly forget to appreciate what they do for us.
But it is the rare moments that someone else needs our help that take
us by surprise.
During my last days of high school I had a project that was 30% of my
grade. Like any other high school student, I left the entire project to
the night before it was due. I invited my best friend, who had
procrastinated as well, to my house. At 8pm we had worked on the
project for four hours and still had four more hours before our
projects were finished. But I had received a call from a school
acquaintance, crying because she just found out her parents were
getting divorced.
I had never been to this girl’s house nor talked to her outside of
school, but at that moment I knew she needed me. I looked at my best
friend straight in the eye and told him, “Sorry, I have to go,” and
left my project behind. When I arrived at the girl’s house she was
sitting on her driveway crying. I stuck my hand out and picked her up.
I put my arms out and hugged her as she cried on my shoulders. We
talked for hours until her tears dried up. She looked at me with her
red eyes and said, “Thank you, you were the only person I knew I could
talk to.”
At that moment I did not understand why she had trusted me, but she
did. Later I realized that while she was out partying with her
“friends” every weekend, she had never trusted any of them as a friend
should. Yet those times at school where I just sat and listened to her
stories, she had gained a trust in me that was far greater than those
she had crated with her party “friends.” Although we were never truly
close, her simple “Thank you” touched me. For weeks my best friend
joked about how I ditched him at my own house to go over to the girl’s
house. Yet after a year he caught me by surprise when talking to our
friends. “I have never seen someone more caring about his friends,” he
told them. “He put everything aside to help her out, and that really
impressed me.” I was shocked to hear such words from my best friend,
but I finally realized that he as well trusted me in being the support
he needs when times get tough.
One day at the store I saw a small tree growing by a fence near the
door. As I stared at it longer I noticed that it was drooping. The tree
had grown too large to stand up by itself. I knew by looking at it that
the plant would either fail to grow larger or break if it grew any
more. I grabbed some fishing line and tied the tree to the fence so
that the tree would stand upright. Over the next few days the tree grew
sixteen inches, doubling its height.
Some people may say, “Sasha, let nature be. It will take care of
itself.” Yet I could not stand to see the tree fall over and wither
away. Now more than ever, during these difficult times, we all need a
lending hand to help each other out. When we are unable to achieve the
results we want to see we become powerless and try the same ineffective
processes over and over again. This does not, and will not, work. Many
times it takes an outsider to help us realize the opportunities we are
missing. Sometimes we need other people to hold our hands to get us
through the tough times.
During my time at the Chakra Shack I learned how to help people arrive
at the results they are looking for. The store is here as a support
system, to assist individuals on their spiritual path in reaching their
goals. I have seen people who have given up after losing a loved one or
being laid off their work. They confide in the readers and come out of
the session with a renewed hope that they can achieve what they desire.
I have had several people come to me to asking for a book or candle to
help them attract more abundance.
During this holiday season there will be several families struggling to
make the most of what they have. Now more than ever we must be there
for each other and give hope that tomorrow will bring better days. One
may not always ask for help when he needs it, but as a friend we must
be there to support them at all times. Listen to what one has to say,
and offer your assistance if you can. Together we can help make this
community stronger.
