Thanks For The Simple Things
We work hard every day. Sometimes we’re not sure why.
It feels like the big reason is so we don’t get kicked out of our houses or have the lights turned off.
NOOOOOOO! Not the DirecTV. Gotta keep that on.
Need the car. Yep. Need that. Otherwise we can’t get to the mall.
And we need the Netflix account. That’s how we binge watch the last two seasons of Scandal.
Heat. Yes. That’s also very important. It’s why we work. Right?
The wind was whipping through the trees with forceful breath and I knew it was chilly. Yet, there he was. His face, steely and his stare ice cold. His coat was a bit raggedy, the holes showing his clothes underneath and his shoes shared the story of their long existence.
His fingers clutched the sign tightly so the wind wouldn’t steal it.
Car after car drove by and there he stood, like a statue, waiting to be noticed.
I drove up and pressed the button to lower my window.
“Hey bro, what’s your name?”
“Corey,” he said.
“How long you been out here?”
“Oh, just a few hours.”
“Ain’t you freezing man?”
“Oh, it ain’t so bad. Gotta do what you gotta do, ya know?”
Then he smiled and said, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
I was a little puzzled by the turn in the conversation. I hadn’t given him anything yet.
“For asking my name. Most people don’t ask that. It’s just good to feel like a human being.”
For him, it was as simple as that. He could smile and be grateful because someone said his name.
I just took pictures with my family for our Christmas cards. We do it every year before Thanksgiving. My brothers and their families and my parents, we all get together to eat and take photos.
My mind scrolled through the evening like a movie, pausing to reflect and soak in the radiant smiles and the easy laughter.
We were together, enjoying each others company, giggling, chuckling, hugging, playing, boisterously yelling, with no cares.
There were no gifts, no cable, no TV watching, no worries about bills.
Just us, enjoying each other and being thankful.
Because we’re family and we‘re human beings.
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About The Author
My name is Robert Kennedy III. I’m a professional speaker and author. I speak and write mainly about leadership and communication. Connect with me onTwitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or on my website, RobertKennedy3.com
