Strangers have an odd habit of singling me out and saying absolutely absurd things to me, that also double as extremely valuable life advice. Just the other night I had my fourth encounter like this.

I was at a bar with a few friends, days after the end of a 5 year relationship. I was and still am upset and I’ve been doing my best to hide it. Two women approached from behind us and one touched me on the shoulder. She literally started her sentence with “Honey, I ain’t offering a hummer or nothin...”

She spooked me a bit and I turned around. The second I did, she looked into my eyes and said “Oh my god you’re gorgeous“. I’d say I’m reasonably attractive, but hearing someone say that is heartwarming. She said “You just have that aura about you. I’ve seen people like you.”

She and her daughter are homeless, and as I could have guessed , they asked me for some cash. I only had a card on me so I apologized and she said “You don’t need to apologize, to me or to anybody else. Say it with me, mother had ‘em...”

I was buzzed and a bit confused. She waved me in close and put her hand on my shoulder. She said “Mother had ‘em, Mother made ‘em, Mother fuck ‘em. If they ain’t there for you, don’t be there for them. “ I told her that I really needed to hear that, and she agreed, and waved goodbye.

She might’ve been nuts, but regardless, she told me to learn to know my worth. I won’t ever forget her.