“maybe we are not here to see each other
but to see each other through.”
– anonymous
“when I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,
my mother would say to me,
‘look for the helpers.’
you will always find people who are helping.”
— mister rogers
—
image credit: google images
—–
credits: pbs kids, mister rogers
it was an ordinary summer’s day
and began with
a trip to the doc
who was out
so i met a partner
who was very shy
but who smiled
in spite of himself
as he handed me
a ‘good patient’ princess sticker
then off to the apple store
where a ‘genius’
gave me an hour and a half
of his time
without complaint
while smiling
answering all of my questions
with patience
no attitude
later on my walk downtown
i watched
a hearty construction worker
on his lunch break
reach into his pocket
pull out a dollar
gently bend down
give it to a homeless man
right in his hand
next
i saw
a very young and skinny
chain restaurant worker
with his company t-shirt on
hand some of his tip money
to another street person
and i continued on
where i crossed paths with
a hot dog stand guy
who gave me a nod and a friendly wink
crinkling up his eyes as he smiled
and with each interaction
it felt like people
were doing their best
to stretch a little bit
out of their comfort zone
in an effort
to reach out and touch others
to make a small gesture
and making a larger impact
than they ever imagined.
—–
“the real energy occurs in each connection between two people,
which can bring about exponential returns.”
– tom rath
—
image credit: nimble.com
at the coffee shop
many wander in
grab a beverage
sit a while
relaxing
thinking
writing
reading
studying
working
texting
calling
chatting
waiting
getting away from it all
passing the time
it’s comfortable
being here
even
if
you
are
alone
all
in this one place
at this one time
and yet
they come here to be together.
individually, we are one drop. together, we are an ocean.
ryunosuke satoro
he came in
carefully
hung up his cane
slowly
sat down
easing into
a booth
by himself
facing the door
welcomed
by the staff
who knew
his name
jim
ordered
his coffee
he sat
waited
greeted
the regulars
as they arrived
invited one
to share his booth
sit a bit
he smiled
said no
and still
he sat
welcoming them all
as they
paid homage to him
reaching out
connecting
with
a nod
a smile
a quick hello
as he held court
in the front booth
his morning spent
in the
local coney island
connecting
and
feeling
a part of the world.
—
as my son-in-law returns late tonight from a trip working with children in haiti, and his wife, my daughter, prepares to soon leave to do the same in kenya, i am struck by the unending giving spirit and nature of people in this world who understand we are all one. i look to each of them as models, for me and for others, and i plan to follow in their footsteps and do the same.
and as the unseasonable heavy rains and storms continue today, i am reminded of a wonderful event a few summers back. i was with my family at a large amusement park. it was beautiful out, without a cloud in the sky and we walked around, like most other people that day, staying within our group, enjoying the park and enjoying the day. suddenly, without much warning, the sky grew very dark and raindrops began to fall. as the rain became heavier, people began to take shelter under whatever they could find, planning to wait it out.
within minutes, the rain became quite out of control, with an onslaught of hard, sideways, piercing water. it was relentless. and it quickly became obvious that it was useless to even attempt to stay dry. little by little, everyone began to come out from under their makeshift ‘shelters’, take off wet shirts, and shoes and whatnot, and just fully immerse themselves in the rain, some literally laid in it, as the ground fiooded so quickly, like a warm and wild jacuzzi. there was really no choice but to surrender to it all, and people began to openly laugh and jump and play and dance and embrace the rain. strangers bonded together in full laughter and in this the sudden unexpected experience they had absolutely no control over. all ages, all sizes, all genders, all colors, all human.
after a few more minutes of this, the clouds and the rain moved on, as suddenly as they had arrived, and the sun came back out, bright and yellow, signaling a return to calm. the only clues that it was all real, were the water on the ground, people’s soaked clothing and hair, and the smiles on their faces. soon, people stopped playing, wrung out their clothes, got back in their groups, and walked on. as if it had never happened. it was the highlight of my day.
The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Finally back on American soil after a long and crazy journey home. One last layover and one last flight and I will be home. Along the way, I realized it was my wonder and amazement with people and their choices that kept me smiling. A random sampling for your reading pleasure:
A. My Aussie seat-mate of many hours and ultimate gentleman, who jumped over the back of our seats, so as not to wake me when he got up.
B. The woman who chose to wear a cow costume without a head, but with a pretty blue hair bow instead, who shared the line with me in customs.
C. The mysterious woman who left her ample bra hanging in my airport restroom. I long to know her story.
My sincere thanks to all above, and many more, who made my travel adventure so much more entertaining.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 