Mom and I were in Sam's Club the other day and as she was waiting in line I decided to go to the restroom before we headed to the airport. I walked around, smiling as I always do with anyone that makes that awkward eye contact with me. I grabbed a random stall that was open. However, before I walked in I noticed there was a wheelchair propped up against the door in the handicap stall. My life seemed to just pause for a brief second or two. It was one of those moments when God just casually slaps you in the face to help you reground yourself and humble your spirit. I have those moments sometimes and I always jump right up to the line to see what exactly it is I need to focus on. However, how many other people really do not do this? How many people just walk on by?
As I glanced at the wheels peeking out under the stall, I thought to myself, “had I not seen that wheelchair, I would have thought it was just another 'normal' person.” Honestly, any person would have. Beside the wheelchair, I noticed two feet, facing the opposite direction of where the toilet would be. I just smiled and walked into the stall, with two thoughts that continually ran through my mind the rest of the day.
Only half of the wheel appeared under the door.
In life, our hearts and our minds are usually covered by a “stall door” which blocks the real world from seeing our struggles. Behind that door, we are only who people “think” we are. It is amazing to live in a world that is seemingly so judgmental yet controversial. As I looked and saw the wheelchair, I knew it was a ‘normal’ person in that stall, they just lived their life differently than I did. Does that make someone any less of a person? Heck no it does not and it never will.
There was another person.
No matter how cruel this world may become or how lonely you may feel, you are never alone. In the good times and in the bad, someone will always be there. For some odd reason human beings have this attitude that engulfs their life that makes them crave the ability to be strong. Sometimes you have to be weak. It is called life. I am notorious for trying to be strong and never let emotions win, when in reality, you have to have some breakdowns. You have to cry, let out the feelings, swallow your pride and breathe. You have to lean on a shoulder and just be weak but that is okay. Just because you may not be able to see the feet under your stall door of the person and people that genuinely care about you, does not mean they are not there. There will always be another person.
Throughout my life, from when I was young and still to this day, may dad would always say; “You will never be better than anyone else, but you can always better yourself.” These words went through my mind all day, especially in relation to my experience at Sam's. No aspect of my situation I encountered related to money or even to being better than someone. I just thought to myself, “I will never be better than anyone else, but I can always better myself” and that day I chose to soak up the little moment of life that God was presenting to me and write about it. I took that moment to better my heart and respect for other people. So here is my mission to you: find a moment in life that you can soak up, that will allow you to better yourself. Once you start bettering yourself, your heart, and your mind, you are then able to help those around you. If you notice someone is having a bad day, go beyond the “how are you” even if they say they are fine. When you notice someone is in need, reach out with a helping hand. Life is difficult, a little crazy and sometimes overwhelming, but it is such a beautiful ride. Look for those moments that are encouraging you to “better yourself” and be the sunshine on someone’s cloudy day. Look past the differences that may be noticeable on the surface and find out who someone really is on the inside.
