I had my last call with my counselor. She commended me on my progress in the two weeks’ time. Honestly, I couldn’t have gotten better if my friend had not provided the safe haven that she did. Beyond words, the gratitude that I feel for my friend. She has allowed me to go from despair back to my old, determined self again.

I imagine the steps in which were put in place for me to get to this point. I met her 6 years ago, when I moved to a house across from the park in Tilli. I was originally staying at the accommodation at the University of Stirling. But the accommodation was way overpriced for the experience of living with a bunch of teenagers. I was 31 years old, and had already lived with two teen girls, I really didn’t want to live with drunk college students. I needed my own place, away from the loud drunken singing at the top of their lungs at 3 in the morning.

I sent in a letter to the housing department on the campus and looked for a new place. I found a one-bedroom apartment flat that was £300 less than on campus. It was on the second floor of a house, across from a stream that flowed from the mountains. And a park where 5 ladies walked their doggos every morning at 9 AM.

There was Nala, the German Shepherd who had once slammed into a fence at full speed when her owner threw a ball over it. Ollie and Rooney, a black and red Labrador named after football (soccer) players. Max, the young black cocker spaniel, full of beans and life. He used to rile Ace up with his running and barking, Ace would run after him while howling. Mac, the ridgeback terrier, smart looking dog, dedicated to his owner, an older woman with all white hair but had a lot of youth in her spirit. Sometimes Jamie, a male Westie joined the group. He was as big and feisty as the Scottish Terrier.

I am not a morning person, so it wasn’t until I met my friend one afternoon. Her family lived in Tilli, and she lived in the neighboring town. She originally lived down in Kent for 20 years as a successful financial personal but moved back to Scotland in Nov 2016 to be closer to her ailing parents. During this time, I was packing and making the move from Wisconsin to Ohio to stay with my parents in order to transition smoothly to Scotland for the fall of 2017. But in Tilli, that one evening Ace ran over to Ollie and Rooney and I met the lovely black haired, blue-eyed women. She smiled and was very friendly to the introverted American and her husky.

My friend is an inspiration for many reasons, one she is full of life and full of knowledge. She gives gladly and makes her home suitable to host guests. Not only are the taste of colors and furniture pieces selected, signature of her vibrance and sophistication, but they renew the depleted soul. My friend was raised in the home of supporting and loving parents, no household is perfect but that wouldn’t have affected the brilliance of my friend. Her tenacity for numbers, the discipline of budgeting. She deserves to reap the fruits of her labors.

Unfortunately, Ollie and Rooney have left their owner. They crossed over the rainbow to doggo heaven and will feel no more pain or discomforts of old age. I had asked my friend if she would like to eventually get another dog. The answer is yes, but there is a lot of traveling to accomplish first. Italy being one of the places to visit.

Had my friend not moved back home after 20 years or I had not decided to move out of the student accommodation. I would never have met my friend. Had I never met my friend, I would not have had a place to go. If I had no place to go, I would have had the very hard decision to either live in my car or stay and pray that my instincts were wrong about the creepy landlord.

It is amazing how we decide after meeting someone, that that person would become a long time friend. Ever wonder the ability to intuitively meet an individual and just determine in that instant that they could be trusted and are worth getting to know? Is it the micro body language, the facial expressions, the tone, the eyes that foretell whether someone is suitable for the other? If I had to guess, I would say it is the eyes that speak the loudest. Eyes can smile and they can appear sad, even when the mouth does the opposite. Like someone who is laughing with their eyes and pretending to be upset at being pranked. Or a stranger who gives a friendly smile but their eyes are sad, something that is weighing heavily on their mind.

I read a book by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. About a shepherd boy who has dreams of going to the pyramids and a child telling him he will find his treasure there. He has an encounter with a King who acts as a prophet to help him go for his “personal legend”. The boy sells what he has and leaves it all behind, even the merchant’s daughter. He learns that most people who have dreams, do not pursue them because they are too afraid of leaving the known for the unknown. Leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar or the comforts that they have came to depend on. Or they value what society deems more appropriate. Like settling down , buying a house, having children and eventually relying on retirement funds. They do not know that they do not have to wait for the right time to pursue their personal legend, but that they can leave at any time. During the journey, the boy comes across adversities and dangerous life threatening situations. Guided by the words of the wise men he encounters and the omens sent by God. The boy gains wisdom, strength, and experiences that he would not have gotten staying as a shepherd boy. He also finds true love, the one that he was destined to be with, not the merchant’s daughter.

I think it is good that my friend still has a dream. This will be her personal legend and she will not wait until she is old and retired. She is still young and able to learn the wisdom of the omens and love of the king. Life is short as it is, why live it only dreaming? By God’s design, we are intertwined and play important roles in each others lives. I wonder who else we will meet in the future. What is or was your personal legend?