Tuesday, December 12, 2006

When the Universe Speaks

So as I mentioned last week, our company Christmas party was last Friday night. In the end, I had planned to go. In the end, I stayed home.

You see, originally I had said yes, I would be there. But then I was told we wouldn't be getting off early from work. The party started at 6 pm with the hayride followed by dinner. The location was clear across the city from where I lived. Which meant I had to get off at 5 pm, make it through suppertime traffic to get home, feed and water the dog, then try and get back across town once again by 6 pm. Pretty much undoable. So I decided not to go.

Then my boss told me I could leave early. The party was back on.

Except then I hurt my back. It was hard enough to get through the day at work without wanting to crawl under my desk in the fetal position moaning in pain. Forget sitting through a hayride, dinner and, well I think we can cross out the mechanical bull riding.

But Thursday I went to the chiropractor and my back felt much better. I buffed up my party shoes...or cowboy boots in this case. Yes, I do own a pair.

Friday at 4 pm I left work to go home, feed and water the dog, then head back to the office where I would meet up with my boss and his mini-van to drive us out to the farm where this hayride dinner bull riding event was to take place. I'm driving home and there are a few flakes in the air. No biggy. Except that by the time I got home ten minutes later it was snowing hard. And by the time I fed the dog and let her out at least 2-3 cm had fallen and it was still coming down hard and the wind had picked up.

Just a squall, I tell myself as I head out the door towards the car. I'm halfway down the front steps. That's when it hit me.

I'm not supposed to go to this party.

Now, maybe some of you don't believe in signs from the universe or whatever, but for me, when the universe sends a message...or in this case three messages...I have a tendency to sit up and listen. And when my gut kicks in with its own two cents, well I know better than to ignore. I have ignored before. It has not turned out well. Lesson learned.

I backed up the steps slowly, spun on my heel and escaped back into my house. I called the office and told them to partake in the festivities without me.

The getting off work early issue, the back pain, the snow storm. Message received. I spent the evening curled up with a good book and mug of hot chocolate. The universe carried on without me for the evening and all was well.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Probably a good idea to stay home. Don't know if you were heading over to the farm out my way but the roads out here were a sheet of ice around 6pm.

Anonymous said...

I'm a big believer in signs too. I've learned the hard way not to mess with the roadblocks, and I've gotten wise enough to follow the path where things fall into place easily.

Melissa Amateis said...

There's been occasions when God has given me messages, too. I remember one time I was on my way to visit an old flame. I'd felt kind of apprehensive about it the whole time, but decided to go anyway. But when I received a speeding ticket traveling through a miniscule town, I took that as a sign to turn around and go home. And I'm very glad I did.

Bailey Stewart said...

Yep, sometimes you have to pay attention to the signs.

Tess said...

Oh, I definitely believe in signs and tend to heed them. I agree, you were NOT meant to go to that party. Sounds like your evening at home was just what you needed. Plus, you had Coop with you :-)

Anonymous said...

yep, I try to listen to my instincts. It seems like when I ignore them I get myself into trouble.

And your evening sounded perfectly great anyway. A good book and hot chocolate!

Julie S said...

Definitely a sign. You did the right thing by going home! It sounds like you had a better time at home anyway. Although I'm a sucker for nights like those :-)

MJFredrick said...

I believe in signs, too. I almost didn't go to critique yesterday after a) my coffee exploded in the car b) I hit a bird and c) I almost ran out of gas. If it hadn't been a collaboration one, I would have blown it off.