There was a
story back in January that I read about a Detroit man by the name of James
Robertson who walked 21 miles each
day to work.
IN DETROIT!
Brrr….
The story
evoked an online fundraising campaign for him. Someone even offered to buy him a
car! When I first saw this story, I was immediately taken aback by the
compassion surrounding this story – from every person sharing it or who donated
money to help.
While I was
touched to see others rise to the occasion, it made me wonder, “How many people
passed this man each day, and never offered to help?”
I am not
just sharing this with you guys as an esoteric exercise. It has really bothered
me to think about this situation. Not necessarily “those people” who may never
have actually “seen” him walking to or from work each day and didn’t stop for
him, but in reflecting on myself I wonder: am I really paying attention to the
strangers on the street that I pass by each day or am I just riding by like the
thousands that must have done with Mr. Robertson?
Driving in
and out of New Brunswick each day, I pass lots of people walking on the street.
I mean, Easton Avenue is a busy commuter street. Men and women; old and young.
Parents walking their children to school and others who seem that they may have
been out all night (after all, it’s a college town!).
Since I
heard about James, I have started to look more closely at the people I pass by and
see if I see the same people at the same time each day.
This past
winter when it would snow, I actually stopped a number of times to offer rides
to people. No one actually took me up on my offer. Who knows, maybe they thought
I was crazy, and maybe I am, but I didn’t want to be one of those thousands of
people who just drove by and didn’t see if they needed help.
Ok, so what’s my point here?
My point is,
let’s all make a conscious effort to be more aware of our surroundings and the
people around us. Maybe this post will mean nothing to you, or maybe the story
about Mr. Robertson will make an impact on you like it did for me (I do sure
hope for the latter of the two).
I know I
can’t single-handedly change the world, even though I’m sure as heck going to
try, but if together we pay it forward and extend our help to those who need it
– even when it may not be obvious – then maybe, just maybe, it will give
someone the amount of hope that they need to realize there are people who care.
So, for
every person who is reading this blog today, I challenge you.
I challenge
you to look around today as you’re walking the halls of Children’s Specialized
Hospital; to take a second, third, even fourth look at the person whether it be
a parent of a colleague; or listen a little more attentively when you’re
chatting with your coworkers at lunch. I challenge you to step out of your
comfort zone just a tad and lend your hand, ear, or heart to someone.
That one
act of kindness can start that ripple in the pond, and help turn someone’s day
around.
4 comments:
I love this blog and it actually made me think again of the video that was shown during the customer service pickle training. The one that showed people in the hallways of a hospital with the caption bubbles as to what they were going through. I sat in that training watching that video crying my eyes out because I have been those people more than once and you just never know what someone is going through. Why they are walking where they are and why they are doing what they are doing. I have watched a lady in my town for years and years walk to and from work at many different places she must work 3-4 jobs and I always think for sure she can afford a car by now but then I think who knows what she has to pay for at home or who does she need to feed but she always always gets to work no matter what she has to do. She keeps me motivated on days I complain about little things and thankful for what I have. If we all stop and really look at others and show more compassion the world would for sure be a better place.
Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." I think this is why many of us are working in this field. It is great that you lead by example and a reminder to all of us to be more thoughtful about eachother.
It is so true that we are all connected, and we help ourselves when we help others. I remember years ago when I traveled from school to school to provide therapy, I was seeing a chid in a school and I had to go out to my car to get something. When I did, I saw that a gentleman was filling out a paper using the hood of my car. He thought I would be upset and told me he was filling out a job application. I felt my heart fill with such compassion for him, especially because it broke my heart that he would think I would be upset with him. I was able to find a legal pad in my car to give him so he could sit down on the bench and fill out the application. He was so grateful, and it sounds silly but it was a beautiful moment. I wished him good luck in applying for the job, and I left really having the feeling that we had both lifted each others' spirits.
I also love this post. I know it's crazy, but I stop and give money to people on the street with "I'm homeless, please help" signs, when I'm in a big city. Who knows what they spend the money on, and it's not mine to judge. I feel like stopping to offer someone a ride is a similar simple gesture. It's probably "risky" but there is nothing worse in the world that to feel all alone, and if a small gesture makes someone feel less alone, then it's worth the risk.
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