100 Days of Gladness, Day 11
Gladness Day 11 is my tribute to the anonymous helpers in the greater collective. It’s that crucial group of humans (and animals) who come to the aid of someone utterly incapable of helping themselves. Here’s my story, but first, some context.
In the U.S., we are an incredibly self-centered culture. Even our positive communications are about how to take care of ourselves. “Self care,” “self esteem,” “self actualization.” It’s all aimed at the individual. Success, even, is most often defined as something achieved by an individual.
Also, not only are we supposed to make it, we’re supposed to make it BIG. Best Actor. Best Chef. The Olympics. Academy Awards, Emmys, Tonys, etc. Dream BIG! We are a population of striving “Ones” trying to outdo one another.
But way deep inside, there is an indomitable goodness, a genuine concern for the collective wellbeing that lives outside of thought. It gets summoned under extreme conditions — dramatic situations that hit so quickly no one has time to think about their own safety.
I was the recipient of that goodness several times, but one time stands out —mainly because I wouldn’t be here to tell you about it without several people cooperating to save my life.
