I met a painter the other day. He told me he was a chess player.

I said, “No, you aren’t. You paint.”

He said, “nope, almost never. I play chess.”

I had just seen his art work. Magnificent doesn’t describe it. How could this man say he is a chess player?

“You play chess as a hobby, but you paint for a living.”

“No, I play chess.”

I walked away confused. And then forgot about it.

I met a business woman. She said she studies butterflies.

“You own a company,” I said to her.

“Does anyone really own a company?” she replied.

What was going on here? Have people lost what little sense they had. And with that thought, more and more encounters came my way.

“I’m not homeless, I build castles.”

“I’m not a nurse, I guide hikes.”

“I’m not a politician, I teach cooking.”

“I’m not an energy healer, I love nature.”

“I’m not a shop clerk, I grow plants.”

“I’m not in marketing, I ride horses.”

On and on, this went. It seemed every exchange was marked in some way by a shift in perception. What was going on? What message needed to be brought forth that escaped my understanding.

Last night, I sat with a friend. We shared stories. She’s a beautiful homemaker, wonderful cook, ex-corporate veteran. I love my time with her, it’s always so refreshing. I told her about these seemingly unconnected snippets of conversation.

Do you know what she said….and without any hesitation:

“Just because I clean my toilet, it doesn’t make me the janitor.”