Arlete is my cleaning lady.  She is the most positive, loving person I know. And I love her for it.

I have to admit I just don’t like to vacuum and mop my floors so I would rather pay someone to do it. So, Arlete comes by when I need her and she creates a space happiness in my life by giving me TIME.

But she’s much more than that to me.  Arlete always has a smile on her face and has such positive energy that she changes my mood instantly. She hugs me and says “Robert, God Loves you…he has such great things in store for you.  This year is going to be wonderful for you.”  She even gives me advice on my relationships, on living in the moment, and appreciating things that I have.  She is always, always positive! I write my checks to her with love.

So here’s a lady barely making ends meet…a single mom with two children…on her hands and knees scrubbing my floors, cleaning my refrigerator, vacuuming my house, sweating and sacrificing…with a smile.

I learn a lot about life from my cleaning lady. I think she’s an angel.

We all have angels in our lives who show up and teach us things about ourselves and life. They may not always come in the form we expect. They are disguised. Some angels are our friends who are brutally honest with us by telling us things we don’t want to hear but need to hear.  Some show up for just a few minutes and leave forever…perhaps during an encounter at a restaurant, while shopping, or while stuck in traffic. And yes, some even clean our house.

Angels aren’t always “nice.”  Angels help us see ourselves not just for who we are, but by who we can become.  They make us look inward. They help us grow.

What angels are present in your life?

As we finalize the last week of 2008 and prepare for another year ahead, I want to thank you all for being angels in my life. You may have encouraged me, you have humbled me, and you may have even upset me, but you have always helped me.

As Luciano de Crescenzo once stated, “We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing each other.”

Let’s look to this coming year as another opportunity to spread our wings and become angels for as many friends, clients, and strangers we can. Let’s reach new heights and fly even higher.

Never Fly Solo!
Waldo

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