People are beautiful.
I don’t know if it’s ever since I have put on the blue (aka started working for my non-profit) or since I have tried my best to live for and through my higher power…but people are amazing me left and right.
Sure, there are a ton of A-Holes out there. But I think it’s understanding them and what they are going through, to determine who they are and why they react to certain things the way they do.
Lately, the people I have encountered have been incredibly nice, caring and complex- my mind is boggled. Perhaps I was blind to it earlier, or never paid attention to it before. Even with all of the pain and suffering going on in the world, it is nice to know good still exists through the evil.
Through my position, I have been able to see hundreds of people turn out to make a little boy’s wish come true, have seen people drop hundreds of dollars in support of a cause and volunteer to help in any way possible- but I think today put me over the edge.
I attended Farrell’s Ice Cream Eating Competition.
I arrived around 11 and was there to take pictures, do social media and help out. I noticed a man, probably in his mid-twenties, walking around and watching the competitors eat their ice cream. He wore a zebra backpack and clutched tightly to his raffle tickets.
Little did I know, he had entered the men’s competition. He took the stage with four other men and sat at a table, six scoops of ice cream waiting to be devoured in record time. The competition began and the men shoveled the ice cold dairy down their throats (it amazes me and disgusts me at the same time.) The man didn’t place.
As the winners were announced, the third place winner turned to the man and gave him his trophy.
“It was such a close race, I feel he deserves it more than I do,” third place said.
Our friend hugged third place and the tears began.
“How do you feel?” the MC asked our zebra backpacked friend.
“Amazing! This is incredible. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to say!” he stuttered with excitement.
Third place wiped his eyes.
The rest of the day, the man walked around proudly with his trophy, showing it to everyone and anyone. He did numerous happy dances, held it high in the air and clinked his golden plastic statue with any others that also had a trophy.
He was happy. He was beaming. This was quite possibly the best day of his life.
Third place could have taken his prize and left. He had won fair and square. He didn’t need to do anything, but he did.
He changed the life of a man who had probably had a lot of struggles in his life. He was probably made fun of by ignorant people. He wasn’t able to live the kind of life an average 24-year-old could live.
Third place is my hero.
Which is why I think life is all about perspective. You can see things a certain way then realize what is truly important. Third place realized that by giving his trophy to zebra backpack man, he would be doing something that would make a huge impact in the life of another. He gave the man happiness, hope and joy.
What are you doing to bring hope and joy to others?
Remember that everything you do has an impact on others. Make sure it’s positive.
People are beautiful and life amazes me.