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No One Is Exempt
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Human-to-Human Service
Posted: 04/17/2011
“In the face of fear they were only concerned about others.”
That’s the quote I remember most after bartending at a recent fundraiser for Japan Relief. It came from an American schoolteacher working in Japan when the earthquake struck. Within seconds, her life changed forever, along with the lives of everyone around her as Mother Nature once again reminded us of our vulnerability.
People often ask me why the people I discuss on the blog, the ones who exemplify Human-to-Human Service, civility and empathy, act the way they do. My hunch is that people who have experienced adversity or tragedy tend to be more aware, empathetic, kind and patient. They have come to realize that our time on earth is short, that we are all a phone call, an accident, a diagnosis or a natural disaster away from devastation. It’s not always the ‘other guy’.
Jodie Gilson from Groton, MA knows about the power of Mother Nature and the awesome kindness of friends and strangers alike. The owner of J. Gilson Greenhouses, a wholesale grower and supplier of herbs and flowers, Jodie’s greehouses and business collapsed under the weight of the heavy snows of the infamous winter of 2011. A few weeks ago, the close-knit Boston restaurant community, led by Jodie’s son Will, rallied and raised more than 35K to help Jodie rebuild her business. I’ve invited Jodie to share her experience in the comments following this post.
Last Sunday, I worked at a reception celebrating the life of James C. Haddock 75, from Dublin, NH, who died after falling down the stairs in his home. According to the SentinelSource.com Mr. Haddock was a disability social worker and advocate for the developmentally disabled, a cause that would define his life. He was “engaged in a lifelong fight for equality for all.” What a wonderful and important legacy.
I’m not a fatalist, more a jaded optimist, but I think it’s important to remind each other from time to time that we’re not here forever, and all that matters is how we treat each other every day. We’ll all be better of as soon as we realize that the ‘other guy’ is ‘us’, and no one is exempt.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ken Kornelson, a 35-year veteran restaurant server, a few weeks ago. After chatting about customers and service for a bit, Ken left me with a refrain used often by those who serve, “Kindness is free.”
Amen, brother. Amen.
8 Responses to “No One Is Exempt”
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Permalink | Posted in Human-to-Human Service | 8 Comments »
Life is too short to ignore our interconnectedness to other human beings. I agree totally with your blog which serves as a poignant reminder that kindness, help and love are the most important gifts we can give to others.
That is a great article. With all that’s going in the world right and our politicians trying to satisfy themselves like some kids on a corner to see who is right. Einstein said it right too. He said “Man’s purpose in life is to serve his fellow man”. You do good work Pat and I appreciate you.
Love,
Dick OBrien
Very fitting post especially during Easter and Passover season. It is important to remember such a basic message about the human condition
I’m reminded of family friends Jim and Mary Trentini…a couple on the plane that hit Tower II. They were on their way to support their adult children by babysitting young children for a few days in California.
We all are a heartbeat away from experiencing a disabilitiy.
Great piece. I grew up with the wonderful fortune of knowing many people who really touched my life but who I also lost very early. Those experiences changed the way I live and made me grow up more quickly than most my age, but I definitely feel like I give and get more out of life for those experiences.
“Kindness is free”, love it.
I grew up in upstate New York, the snow capital of America. It was always interesting to watch people react during a crippling snowfall. Everyone was eager to help out, sometimes joining with complete stangers to push their cars out of a drift. People seemed to welcome that opportunity . . . maybe it took them back to a time when human beings realized that cooperation was necessary for survival. Good to have you back, Patrick.
Hi Patrick! Glad you’re back here. This article is a very nice reminder of the reality of life and why it makes how we treat others so important! I have been seeing many articles about the Japanese culture and how they treat each other, especially in the face of tragedy and it’s pretty inspiring.
I love the saying about kindness and I would like to state the reminder that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. Plus it just makes you feel good to smile at strangers– and if they don’t smile back, that’s ok, you tried.
Finally, I was one heartbeat away from disaster when I had my horse accident! If I hadn’t been wearing a helmet, I would have been scattered to the winds in January of ’99. As it was, I almost lost my leg, so yeah, I certainly understand what can happen in an instant. I was and still am so grateful for friends and family who showed me kindness and love. They were practicing the Golden Rule for sure!