A man walked into the store today. I work at a metaphysical bookstore. He asked me if I thought metaphysics could help him with his anger issues. When I asked what type of anger issues, he told me that people piss him off.

I asked him why people pissed him off. He told me that people are stupid. He added that anymore he gets angry easily. I asked him who pissed him off the most. He told me everyone pissed him off. I pointed to myself and he told me I didn’t piss him off. He told me he didn’t even know me. Then I asked if it was people that he knew that pissed him off the most. He shrugged and said, “sometimes.”

I asked the man who owned the car he was driving. He said the bank did. I asked him who owned the house he lived in. He said his landlord did. I asked if he was married. He said he was. I asked who took care of the checkbook. He said his wife did.

I told him that metaphysics has many uses to many people, but I thought that he had to know what he wanted before I could help him. He said he wanted something to help him not get so pissed off all the time. I asked him why he wasn’t pissed at me. He said he didn’t know me and I hadn’t done anything to piss him off.

I told the man there are many paths one can take, and each has a different type of journey, but often the same destination. I informed him that there are books on meditation, yoga, magik, tantra, kareeza, books by different men and women from different paths. I asked him what he had thought about before he entered the store, as far as what his interest might be. He said, “something that can help.”

I asked this man where he had the most power, within his life. He told me he didn’t feel he had any. He admitted his wife pretty much ruled the house, he was stuck in a dead end job, his kids didn’t respect him and he had no real friends to speak of. He told me that life sucks. I didn’t want to argue with him. So, I told him that I liked that he was willing to make a difference in his life.




We talked as he thumbed through books. I asked questions and he answered. We talked a little about some of the books he thumbed through. Eventually I had to tell him that each of our lives is what we make of it. We can be happy with things the way they are, or at least be somewhat content, or we can be pissed off all the time. He looked at me, then smiled.

The man told me he had believed that way a long time ago. He told me he had been into metaphysics back when the book “I’m okay, you’re okay” came out. He said his life had changed a lot since then. He had grown older, not much wiser, and had many regrets. He said he wished he could turn back time and do it all over again the right way. I agreed that would be nice.

When I asked him why he was pissed all the time he said he didn’t know. I told him I knew. I told him that he had given away his right to his own emotions. He had let others control how he felt. He agreed. I told him all he had to do was take charge again, and decide not to let others make him angry. He admitted that he knew others could only piss you off, if you let them. I agreed.

I told him all the answers he was looking for he already knew, he just had to understand what it was that he had to know. The man asked me what really pissed me off. I smiled and told him that people who are always pissed off piss me off. We both laughed. The man had been carrying a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and The Only Dance There Is. Both good books.

The man introduced himself and apologized for his demeanor. I smiled and told him it was okay. He paid for his books and left. I had to wonder if he was searching for something specific, or if he already knew what he wanted or needed. Both of the books he bought are old books, good, but old. If he had been into metaphysics long ago, I would think he already had copies of the books he bought.







After he left I realized that he hadn’t come into the store looking for anything. He already knew what he wanted and needed to know.
The store entrance was more than just a door. It was a door way to his past. I was a part of his journey. I was his reminder of who he was, and was supposed to be. He didn’t have to buy the books. He probably already owns a couple of each. What he had to do was reconnect with his previous self, the person who used to be in charge of his life and his emotions, and his happiness.

It’s always fun meeting people on your journey, but it’s even cooler knowing you were a part of somebody else’s.