There are people under public scrutiny all the time… criticized for doing things as if they were doing it as some publicity stunt, simply for the fact that they are in the public eye… I could mention Angelina Jolie as one, and her adoption of children of third world countries… Bono Vox, Hugh Laurie and many others. Personally, I think it is a wonderful thing, that just because they can and that they do it, and I sure as hell won´t criticize them for it… I think it´s beautiful regardless of their status quo. People argue about the fact, that there are many kids in Jolie´s own country that she could do that for, which to a certain extent, is true, but it is also true, that her own country is set up to help kids left right and center, and most third world countries are not.
Here, I would like to talk about all the unsung heroes in our own communities and the things they do to make the world a better place. I know quite a lot of people who go out of their way to make someone smile and make their lives a little bit easier in some way. People I have met and have had wonderful conversations with and even had, eye-opening views to the millions of ways that people go out of their way to help people and make their lives easier in some way.
I have friends who have set themselves up in Gambia, Africa, to teach the kids there how to read and write, also set up a charity to help these kids have a better life. No one really know these two, and they are two of the most wonderful people I´ve ever met. And a family who goes there every year to play Santa for these kids to watch them break into smiles… I think that´s beautiful! I also have a very long time friend who is now retired, but still lectures at the university and still does research in breast cancer to help fight that disease, although technically, he should be retired. I think that´s wonderful! Oh and the list of all the unsung heroes would go on and on. The new neighbor who moves into a community and the neighborhood comes and welcomes him/her in. It´s really nice… isn´t it???
The beautiful people, true beautiful people we meet everyday, people who we are glad to know and make us smile that such people exist and that is what true humanity is all about. Being kind to each other. Trying to make life easier for everyone. Even if you are only able to lend an ear and spend time with someone who isn´t doing too well, to hold their hand and let them know you are there. To let them know you really do care.
To be able to sit with somebody and enjoy a cup of coffee, a complete stranger even, that has sparked your curiousity and have an interesting conversation without any false pretenses… just learning something new everyday and not spoiling the beauty of the natural curiousity for learning something different. Not transforming the natural smile of human kindness and curiousity into tears…
Creating Random Acts of Kindness… that´s what true humanity is all about. The rest is just garbage.
post by Isabel Gallagher
