Finding Barbara's Book

By Bridget Q.

During winter in Seattle, my mom has been coming over in the evening to read by my fire. She finds it more relaxing than watching TV. I agree!

She started with a book on how the Danish raise their kids and when we were brainstorming more books she would like she wanted a biography of Barbara Bush. She met Barbara back the 80s and always admired her as a mother and classy dame.

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We figured we would find it at a used book shop or the Goodwill by some magic at some point. Or, if needed, just buy it online and have it shipped right to her.

Just a few nights later I went for a walk in my neighborhood. It was dark and chilly and I decided to wander a different way than normal. I crossed the main road I live by and went uphill, instead of taking my usual, easier, evening route on a flat road near my building.

Often when I walk I sense guided directions, like "right" or "left," or I just feel like going a certain way because the other direction feels like two magnets flipped so they repel each other. This often results in chance meetings with friends or a better workout or seeing hummingbirds (my favorite!).

This night, through a combo of vibes and tips I ended up on a street I rarely walk down and felt called to a "Little Library" of free books outside of someone's house. Not thinking of the goal of finding Barbara's biography, I spent about a minute looking through the books available and wondering which ones I might like for myself.

Just as I was about to shut the door on the tiny library and walk away a book on the bottom shelf in the far left caught my eye. You guessed it, Barbara Bush's memoir, in perfect condition, clean, and near-new. I snapped it up, laughed out loud, and thanked my always-on, super-helpful guidance for bringing it to me.

Also, Mom is loving reading the book. It's written in a really warm, fun style and her wish to read it is matching up with how much she is enjoying it. She guessed right on what she would enjoy.

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Bridget, what did you take away from the experience of finding that book so quickly and for free? 

I feel like the Universe knows our wishes and brings them to us as they make sense or are in alignment with where we are at and what we are choosing. I think the reading time my mom has undertaken suits her health and well-being in this moment really well. She's totally engrossed in growing her mind and expanding her thoughts as the simpler pace of life is giving her time to go within and move slower. Finding the book so easily only reinforces this new process.
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