Keep your eyes and ears open. People are there-ready to make a difference in your life. Let them in, and you will remember them for a lifetime. We have all had these experiences, and here are a few examples from my own life.

In late November my husband and I traveled to New Zealand for a truly amazing group tour of both the north and south islands. We joined a guide and 14 other travelers for an experience that I dubbed: “scenery on steroids!” Two of our fellow adventurers were from San Diego, where we spent the month of January, 2026. (Lucky us for missing the abominable winter weather in Colorado Springs. Sorry-not sorry-for rubbing it in.)

Anyhoo, Debbie and Paul invited us to get together with them when we came to California. Debbie had worked for the San Diego Zoo for 20 years, and she and Paul were gifted with lifetime passes that included each of them bringing a guest each time they visited. Did we want to go and experience an insider’s tour? Of course we did!

We were treated to a memorable day at this world renowned park, and they knew just how to set the pace ensuring that we saw the best of the best. A few highlights included visiting the two panda bears-Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. They are just so darn cute, and you are able to view them clearly in their personal habitat-Panda Ridge.

The koalas are also a must-see sight. San Diego Zoo houses the largest colony of koalas outside of Australia with 20-30 residents. Again we were able to view these cutie-pies lounging and lustily dining in the eucalyptus trees. Debbie and Paul knew the pandas and koalas would be highlights. A few other outstanding sightings included the kookaburra. (Debbie and I sang a duet of the Kookaburra Song. Hilarious!) Several of the bird habitats house birds with colors and markings that are almost surreal. We were awed by salmon-colored flamingos, the bright plumage of the bee-eaters, scarlet macaws, and my favorite-a burgandy-colored pompadour cotinga. Wow!

This day was so special as we re-connected with amiable New Zealand enthusiasts who knew just how to show us one of their favorite hometown sites. Thank you Debbie and Paul! This is a great example of being open to people reaching out.

Be willing to embark on opportunities that present themselves to you. Back in 2017 I had recently retired as a mental health therapist. I saw a notice in the now-defunct Cheyenne Edition (part of Pikes Peak Community Newspapers) seeking writers. Hey-I liked to write, and had gotten consistently positive feedback from friends and family for my travelogues. I spied the former editor of PPCN, Hannah Blick, at a local event. Gathering up my chutzpah, I expressed my interest in writing for the papers. I must admit I was a bit dumbfounded when she told me to make an appointment to see her. I did, she took a chance on a would-be journalist, and I have been regularly writing for local publications for the past 8 years. I took a chance, followed through, and reaped amazing rewards largely based on the mentorship of someone who also took a leap of faith. Thank you, Hannah!

I believe that we all have angels come into our lives that we remember forever. What they do might not be earth shattering, but a reminder of goodness in the world. Once Ron and I had a trailer tire blowout on a lonely road in southern Texas. Ron had been mightily working on changing the tire for an hour when a truckload of burly guys pulled up behind us. I was momentarily alarmed, but the four of them had that tire changed in a scant 5 minutes, and we were on our way.

Years ago I was at O’Hare Airport waiting for a delayed flight home after experiencing a devastating family event. I struck up a conversation with a family returning from a happy family occasion. They will never know how much I appreciated their willingness to converse with a stranger about their own positive time when I was feeling so low.

My last words here are to trust yourself to take chances, challenge yourself, and be open to possibilities. What you get back can range from a simple, positive moment in time; to a life-changing event. Speak up for yourself, ask for what you want, seek mentors, don’t be afraid to say yes or no depending on the situation. Eliminate toxic relationships from your life. Stretch yourself and be open to new experiences, and watch for those angels. It’s amazing what is out there if you are open to it.