How many of us have missed an opportunity to do a good deed, to help someone out, lend a hand when it is needed? What about with a complete stranger? How often do we recognize when someone else needs a hand, even something as simple as helping them grab an item from a top shelf without them asking? What about the larger opportunities when someone needs their car jumped or are stranded on the side of the road? Do we pull over or drive on by? Do we take a moment out of our day or keep pushing on to the next task? I was presented with such an opportunity today. I was driving from one job to another and a few cars ahead of me a truck stops in the middle of the road at a green light. I can see hands gesticulating in the cars around me. I remain calm and just wait my turn to pass. When I got closer, I saw that the driver had gotten out of his pick-up truck and was putting stuff back in the bed of the truck that had slid off at the light. It probably wasn’t tied down well, but we all have made that mistake at some point. When it came time for me to pass, I half contemplated pulling over in front of him to give him a hand picking up the packages. As I pull ahead, the other half of me that wanted to get to work took over and I kept on driving. As I glanced in my rear view mirror, I could see that the truck behind me stopped to help instead. At least someone had the decency to stop and lend a hand, it just wasn’t me today.
I did feel a little pang of regret that I had driven by without helping, but at least I recognized my shortcoming and can hopefully act differently in the future. How often do we pass by these situations without lending a hand? I’d like to think I help out a lot of the time, but today, I didn’t. Perhaps if we all go out of our way a little more, people would be a little happier around us. As long as we are making progress towards helping others, we are starting to make a difference. Let us try to seek those opportunities to help others out, become aware of those around us who need that help, and step up when its our time and lend that helping hand. Often times, its the smallest gesture that can change the course of someone’s day. A smile or an offer for help that wasn’t expected. I know it usually puts a smile on my face when I am offered help out of no where and it is especially nice to see others doing the same as well.
Leave a Reply