A time that I followed my gut, and it was right?

I’m not one of those people who can recognize a “gut feeling” and always react to it. In fact, I’m more of a let me overthink this, then let me overthink on overthinking, and so on… But there was one time I can think of where I followed my gut (you call it gut, I call it my heart, but regardless, I followed it).

It was a sunny fall day, and I was at my college working at the Christian club table. This particular year, we were handing out icees/slushpuppies to try to get more people over to talk to us. Typically, the guys approached the guys, and the girls spoke with the girls; it was the club’s way to make people feel comfortable. The college bus would drop groups off, so we had to work fast and be creative. Most people walked in with a group, talking to someone. Some wore headphones, and the music was loud. Some were texting and avoiding eye contact with an invisible sign that said BACK OFF.

But there was one person who broke the “mold”. He didn’t come in as a group or on the bus. He wasn’t texting or listening to music. Instead, he had his bookbag under his arm as he helplessly looked at the paper in his hand. No one knew him (at least not yet). He would look up to try to find a way, but wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone. Call it my gut or my heart, but something drew me across the room to him. The look on his face was pure terror when I asked him if he was ok. He kept looking at his feet, mumbling. He finally worked up just enough courage to tell me, “I’m lost, I’m trying to find the RMCC building.” I remember the way his face looked; he was mortified that he had to ask for help. He looked defeated. I giggled a little and said, “You are lost, cause your standing in the RMCC building.” his face went from mortified to embarrassed to relieved in seconds. We talked for a few minutes, then I brought him to get an icee. The guys were all busy showing and talking to other newbies, so despite our advisor’s surprised looks, I gave this person a tour of where all his classes would be. I talked up the club, of course, but we also spoke of music (as he was a music major) and musicals. We laughed a lot, and that tour, which should have taken maybe 10 minutes, turned into an hour, cause all we did was talk!

Was it my gut or my heart? I’ll guess never truly know. But either way, approaching that guy was the best choice I made. Without my gut or heart feeling, I would have never met my husband!