“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss
“Mrs. Roddy? You know there is something of a personal nature that I wanted to run by you and see what you think…”
Oh how this young woman has evolved! I mentored her in 1998 when she was 15 years old. At that time, she had struggles with her family—her mom in particular. “Dianna” (she asked that I not reveal her real name), was steeped in anger and confusion.
Now she’s a mature young woman. She’s a college graduate and works in the health care industry. Around Halloween 2011, she called my mobile, surprised that I still had the same number. We’ve had lunch several times since then. It’s been a joy to reconnect with her; so wonderful to see her smile. We’d just finished talking up the pleasantries—her career, her recent Florida vacation, and my new projects. Now she needed my advice.
“Go right ahead, honey—ask away.”
“I have two good friends, ‘Charles’ and ‘Sandra.’ They’ve dated for a few months now. Things seem to be going OK, but….
She shrugged and shook her head. “When they have a squabble, each calls and asks if I’ve spoken to the other. Then, they each tell me the TRUE version of what went down. Each asks my opinion on what they should do about the ‘situation’ since, ‘Dianna, I know you’ll tell me the straight up deal.’
“I gotta tell ya Mrs. Roddy, I’m feeling uncomfortable being in the middle of this. Something about it doesn’t feel right! I appreciate that both like and respect me enough to think I could be a mediator. But lately, my stomach kind of turns over whenever the caller ID says it’s one of them. What do you think I should do?”
I didn’t mean to laugh. I quickly composed myself and explained my grin. “Honey, you don’t need my advice. Your body is your best counsel. What is it saying?”
She looked out across the restaurant for a moment. “Being stuck in the middle is literally sickening. I remember you telling me years ago, ‘trust your gut, your body doesn’t lie.’ I thought I knew what that meant…”
“And now?”
She took a big breath, exhaled, and sighed.
