In light of sadness and tragedy clouding the news lately, I want this to be a reminder of how remarkably beautiful this world can be. We have to remember: Where there is darkness, there is also light; where there is death and violence, there is kindness and selflessness. The stories that follow are just that, demonstrations of the courage and compassion that still very much exists in our world.
Narayanan Krishnan, a man who ran a successful hotel in Bangalore, noticed a starving man on the street eating his own feces to survive. Witnessing this, he decided to quit his job and help the many in his hometown suffering from homelessness and starvation. Since 2002, he has cared for the people of his town by delivering them freshly made meals and offering baths and haircuts to those in need. Krishnan is part of a Brahmin community that is not supposed to "touch, clean, hug or feed these people," but for him, he said, "everybody is the same...The ultimate purpose of life is to give, so start giving and see the joy of giving."
First graders Zac Gossage and Vincent Butterfield are two inseparable friends. When Vincent found out Zac was diagnosed with cancer, he wanted to do everything he could to help. He learned about Zac's type of cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and found out the treatment was very expensive. He decided he could help Zac's family pay for the treatment by selling scarves that he and his mom made for fun. He also surprised Zac by showing up to school with his head shaved. When Vincent was asked by News Channel 5 what he thought friendship was, he responded, "a beautiful thing." Zac is now in remission.
Ten-year-old Nasim Lawrence found a wallet on the ground at a Super Motocross Event in Oakland. He brought it back to his seat, determined to find the owner. After finding the wallet, the Super Motocross Event no longer mattered to him, he was too busy looking around for a lady that looked like the ID picture. When he got home from the event, he wrote a heartwarming letter to the wallet owner (Taylor Sloan). When she received the letter along with her wallet in the mail, she was happy to have her belongings back but the sweet letter is what mattered most.
After wining her first race at a championship track meet in Ohio, runner Meghan Vogel helped another runner cross the finish line. During Vogel's second race, which was a longer distance, she found herself slipping behind the rest of the girls. On the last lap Meghan noticed fellow runner Arden McMath, stumbling in front of her. Instead of passing her, Meghan took McMath under her wing and helped her cross the finish the line, even keeping her in front so McMath could finish before her.
On January 19, 1981, the great Muhammed Ali saved a man from jumping to his death. A psychologist, police and a minister had already failed at coaxing the man from the building, when Ali just so happened to be nearby. He saw the man standing on the ledge of the building and volunteered to try and talk him down. Ali called to him, "I'm your brother, I want to help you." The man saw who he was and opened the fire escape door, letting Ali through to speak to him. For 20 minutes Ali spoke to the man, who eventually came down from the building. The man was taken to the hospital where Ali promised he'd visit him.
Something magical happens when we use our courage and compassion to help others. It generates happiness. Not the fleeting happiness that comes from accomplishments or material things, but a contagious joy that spreads like wildfire. It is the kind of happiness that goes below surface level and straight to the soul. I truly believe that spreading this happiness by "paying it forward" can foster positive change to our world.
So I have simple challenge for you...
Look up and watch at least one inspiring video each morning. Let the message from that video guide your day. Let it remind you to seek out opportunities to better yourself and those around you. What may seem like a simple act of kindness, could change someone's life for the better.
