Have you ever felt like every person in the news has lost their mind?
Me? I feel that way all the time. It feels like everyday there is a new shooting, an abuse of power, or a terrorist attack. It would appear that the advice is no longer “Don’t talk to strangers,” but now is “Don’t engage a stranger. Don’t talk to them, don’t look at them, don’t even go near them. They’re dangerous.” The saddest part about this advice, is how easy it is to follow.
I fall into it myself. There are days that I don’t want to make eye-contact or smile, let alone talk to people. Ugh! Small talk is the bane of existence for an introvert such as myself. However, in a world devoid of accountability, where hurtful people are emboldened behind keyboards, and good people can be left unaware because they are too engrossed in their smart phones, how could we expect the world to look any different?
Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I agree. We can’t determine someone else’s actions for them. The only person whose actions we have control over, is ourselves. If you want to see some one be kind, encouraging, courteous, or brave. Be those things.
So this weekend, I interacted with a stranger.
Okay, backstory… Lately I have been taking small steps towards traveling solo, just little day adventures, but they have already exposed a good sized fear that I have. What if I get stuck or injured, and really need help? What if I am surrounded by strangers, when what I really need is a trustworthy and compassionate friend? I would hope to find someone willing to help that I could trust not to screw me over. As a result of that desire, I became that person for someone else on Sunday.
While I am waiting in line at “The Summit of Pike’s Peak” (and yes, I said that in an action/announcer esque voice while typing) for the shuttle back to my car, I overhear this guy talking about how he just hiked up the +14,000ft mountain and didn’t know how he was getting back down to his bike at the base. My heart went out to him, first because I have a good friend who… …It would not surprise me if he landed himself in the same situation. And second, because if I had just hiked 7 hours to get to the top (which realistically, I would never do), I would NEED a ride back down. So, I offered, and the really great part is… He was totally nice! I loved getting to drive down the mountain while talking with Matt from Tennessee, who has a Tom Selleck level mustache. Matt, who kept trying to call/text his Mom and take video on his GoPro for her, so she would know where he was. He was a complete sweetheart of person that I never would have met, had I allowed myself to be guided by a generalized fear.
Now, I am not saying to go pick up the next hitchhiker you see. What I am saying, is that it’s important for us to balance our own comfort and security, with actions that are based in compassion. Not everyone is out to hurt us. Sometimes, they are just like us, traveling solo and in need of a friend.
Sojourn Nation 