Jamie’s Gems – People Need People

People need people.  Well duh right?  These words sound so simple, so obvious but at times even the best of us could use a little reminding of this very simple truth.  I know we all like to pride ourselves on being that strong independent man or woman who doesn’t need anyone or anything but the fact of the matter is we could ALL use a helping hand from time to time. 

So how many of you enjoy people watching?   Yup…guilty, me too.  People watching can be highly entertaining, but it can also be rather eye opening.  While I was at the gym the other day, a B-level actor (probably only recognizable to me because I work in the entertainment industry) walked in alone with a “too cool for school” air, he made zero eye contact with anyone, definitely giving off the vibe “I’m a celebrity, I don’t need anyone, don’t talk to me.”  About thirty minutes into his workout, he apparently overestimated his strength and bench-pressing abilities.  Suddenly I saw (and heard) him panicking, calling out for help, as he was moments away from getting crushed by the heavy barbell his arms could no longer hold away from his neck/chest area.  Three guys rushed over to his aid and together they lifted the barbell off of him and put it back into its cradle.  The actor then sat up, gave out a sigh of relief, thanked the three guys and shook their hands.  I see this actor almost everyday at the gym and I think this was probably the first time I had ever seen him acknowledge or make eye contact with another human being at the gym. 

Newsflash, people need people….and yes, even the “too cool for school” people need people.  Hopefully this was a humbling and valuable lesson for him.  It certainly was for me as I watched it all unfold. We can’t do everything on our own, though we’d all like to think we are superpowered super humans who can do it ALL on our own.  Needing help is NOT a sign of weakness.  We need our friends, we need our family, we need our caregivers…we need other people.  We are not alone in this world and it makes no sense that we should ever have to walk alone through it.  Whether in times of sickness or in times of good health, fact of the matter…we need each other.  

This made me think of the very famous “Footprints” poem.  “Those times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.”  We have all been “carried” at some point in our lives and likewise, we’ve all (hopefully) done the “carrying” of others when they have needed a hand.

What was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?   What was its effect on you and your life?  Give this some thought today.  Think about all of those who have made a difference in your life and let’s all try to remember to be grateful to all those important people in our lives…  An attitude of gratitude is never a bad thing.

Thank you to everyone who has ever “carried” me.  As we “carry” on this week, let’s remember to carry each other whenever necessary, never missing an opportunity to do an act of kindness.

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