My words, Your words

       Yesterday I was getting back from the gym and I saw an elderly man in a wheelchair trying to get up the sidewalk ramp. As I was walking towards him, he kept trying so hard but could never manage to get up. I saw all those people standing around him, watching as he desperately fought to get into the sidewalk before the light turned green and before all the cars flew by. The entire time I was walking towards him, I was shocked to see that no one bothered to help him. It was almost entertaining for them to see whether he was going to make it to the sidewalk of not. 

I rushed to his side and asked him if I could help. I think it was instinct. Humans are build to sympathize and help others. We are build in a way that we are able to feel the pain of others. That is a beautiful thing. I helped him up into the sidewalk and I swear to God no one has ever smiled at me with such love and appreciation before. 

I felt so bad that no one had helped him. He seemed so exhausted and tired. I took him to a coffee shop nearby and got him some water and something to eat. It was the least I could do. 

He kept saying “thank you.” I kept wanting to tell him to stop thanking me because if it was me who was struggling, I know that man would have done everything to help me. 

I was about to leave, and before I left he said, “You know I haven’t always been like this. I am a war veteran. I have seen some tough things in my life. Things that have changed me. My wife died, and my children do not even care about me. I was not always like this you know. I had a house, a warm bed to sleep in, water to drink, and food to eat. And now I am a pathetic old man who cannot even get up the sidewalk on his own. I don’t know what made you do this, but thank you for seeing that I was not always like this.” 

I was so touched by his words. Tears streamed down my eyes and I did not even know what to say. 

To that old man and to so many other people that are suffering in this world, life has not been so easy for you. Please know that I may never understand your pain, but today you changed me. Today you made me see the world differently. Today, YOU made an impact in somebody’s life. 

To everyone who feels useless and lonely in this big world, know that we all draw strength from each other. People cannot always be strong on their own, that is why we need other people to be strong for us when our own strength fails. 

I wish I could do so much more that just a few words, and maybe one day I will. Maybe one day I will do something that will be wonderful and that will help those people in need in a real, tangible way. But today, all I have is my words. 

Words are powerful tools, and sometimes a few words can make you reconsider everything. That old man’s words put my life into perspective. They made me appreciate the things I have and the people that love me. 

In a world that is fueled by hatred, please choose love. Please choose to love even those people who seem like they deserve it least, they are the ones who need it most. As I get older, I  am learning that more than anything in the world, I want to make other people happy. I want to make them happy because their happiness truly gives me so much joy. 

Sometimes we are not powerful enough to make a huge difference in someone’s life. But a few kind words and a few small gestures of kindness, can transform the way someone thinks about themselves. I wish I could say I changed that man’s life. And maybe I did, but maybe I didn’t. But that is ok. I know that I showed him that he is not invisible and that someone cares. All that each of us wants in this world is to know that someone cares. 

Always, chose love. Always.  

Ersi Dani