There I was at the peak of my depression, completely bought into the illusion of separation. All I wanted was to go on an adventure that would make me feel something, that would surely make me feel connected to the earth again. So I did what I know best, I booked a trip, 23 hours later we finally landed at our destination: Phuket, Thailand. We booked a taxi at the airport and headed to our first hotel. When we arrived the receptionist at the hotel asked for my passport to complete the check-in. As I start looking through my bag, I realize I don’t have it!
At this point, I frantically empty out my bag on the reception floor, and notice that both my passport and my phone are gone! The receptionist noticed my despair and was kind enough to check me into the room so I could do a thorough check there. After realizing that I must have dropped it, Nick and I decide to head back to the airport to look for it. As we are heading to the airport, we see the receptionist on his motorcycle, and he asks us where are we going, we said we had to go look for it. He said to stay at the hotel while he looked.
I was skeptical, I remember thinking to myself, this stranger isn’t going to be more invested than me in finding my passport, but since we don’t speak Thai, we accepted his help. My stomach sank when he came back to the room empty-handed. He asked where we booked our taxi, and what exit we took at the airport and went to look again.
I figured the phone could be replaced, but I had been looking at how to replace my passport and the nearest US Embassy was approx 12 hours away in Bangkok, and it wouldn’t open for 3 more days! I sat on the floor defeated, coming to terms with the fact that I would very likely have to spend my entire trip trying to replace my passport when suddenly I hear a knock at the door.
It was the receptionist, he raised both of his hands, he found my passport and my phone. What a relief, my guardian angel must have been working a double shift that day. I reached into my purse to hand the receptionist $100 USD. He looks at me and says I don’t want money, I just want to help. I insisted, and he insisted that he would be repaid with good karma.
My heart broke open completely, I had never had a stranger just want to help. I got out of what seemed like an impossible situation, and the man that made it all possible didn’t want anything in return. I was in disbelief, his actions changed me completely. My heart cracked open and the illusion of separation was revealed as exactly what it is an illusion. At the time I had been feeling as though my kindness was my biggest weakness, and he showed me the complete opposite. One simple act of kindness can make you an angel on earth to someone else.
This was the perfect introduction to the beautiful people of Thailand and their way of life. Thanks to this act of kindness we were able to spend the next week and a half exploring, growing, and expanding.
