This week, maybe because of nostalgia or just being thankful in the midst of this life that can be a cesspool at times, I wanted to share three experiences that just demonstrate that there are kind people out there and it is not all bad.
I think my train of thinking also stemmed from reading a Facebook post from a sister who was grateful for the response of random strangers after she was involved in a vehicular accident. I don’t think we talk enough about these experiences, or how people who don’t know us and who will not benefit in any way just go out of their way to help us.
So, a few years ago I was on my way to work which involved dropping my children to school. Those mornings were always a hassle with the traffic and I tried as much as possible to beat it in order to arrive at work sane.
Anyone who knows the railway embankment will agree that it requires some gymnastic moves with our vehicles to avoid the potholes. Well, that morning my gymnastic skills failed me and not only did part of the vehicle land in a hole, but one of my tyres was punctured. Instant headache. I didn’t know how to change a tyre (shamefully still don’t) and it was raining slightly. I thought at that point, there goes my day.
Not so. An angel appeared in the form of a man who seemed to have an injury to one of his legs as he was walking with a limp. He enquired what had transpired and after speaking to me, he hesitated, looked at his leg, looked at me, then decided to help.
I don’t know what convinced him but this angel (who by the way was of a different ethnicity) despite his injured leg, got down and changed my tyre. To say I was elated would be putting it mildly. I thanked him profusely but he just told me to drive safely and take my children to school.
My two sons in the vehicle witnessed it all and it is my hope if that incident did nothing else it would have ignited a fire inside of them (I hope I had done that already and instead it added fuel to that fire) for them to be kind in this world. Even if it means at times leaving yourself undone or going out of your way to help another, it is worth it.
My second encounter (mind you these are just the ones I want to share because I have had countless in this life which far outweigh the negative ones which have been many as well) had to do with my vehicle again and a puncture. I had just left work. There had been a lot of rain that day and sections of the streets were flooded. Again, I dropped into a hole, this time a water-filled one, and punctured my tyre.
Traffic was crazy. I called my husband and he said he was on his way but I knew it would have taken him a while because of the traffic. In the meantime, another angel, this one younger, who had a woman and a small child in his vehicle, came to my rescue. While a few others stopped and advised me about what needed to be done, he actually stepped out of his vehicle.
The woman and child waited patiently as he changed my flat tyre and I was more than grateful. I called my husband and told him to abort the trip and drove myself and my son safely home that day. Of course, not before I had thanked that kind gentleman and the woman and child as well.
This third experience that I want to share has more to do with my guardian angel than an actual human angel.
Last month, I was struck down while crossing the road close to my place of employment. I was on the pedestrian crossing and I had looked left and right before stepping out. However, a car came out of a connecting street and the next thing I knew, I was down on the road\way.
I was in a sitting position but my feet were in such precarious positions that I felt I must have broken a leg. Immediately there was a crowd. The driver of the car came out and attempted to help. I wanted to get up but he offered to lift me into his car to take me to the hospital.
Someone picked up my purse and another item I had in my hand that fell on the roadway. People were shooting questions at the driver, asking if he had not seen me crossing the road. All this time, I was thinking I don’t want to be laid up in the hospital for weeks but then still thankful that I was thinking coherently.
Now, I am not sure if the car hit me (maybe not), or if it was just the instance of the driver braking rashly that caused me to fall. But I was on the road. After what must have been a few seconds (felt like an hour) and even with the crowd around me I somehow managed to express the will to stand on my own as I was not feeling any pain. I got up and shook out both of my legs (one at a time) and I said to myself if they were broken or fractured there was no way I could have done that.
One of my shoes was off (they were stilettos) so I was advised to remove the other one, which I did. I looked down. I could see one of my knees was bruised and I was already feeling the effects. But I told the driver I didn’t want to be taken to the hospital. A woman hugged me and said a prayer, and I collected my belongings and gingerly walked back to my office. Barefoot and all.
I was shaken of course, with a bruised knee hurt (I am looking at the scar right now) but apart from that I was okay. I took the remainder of the day off (with my boss’s approval, of course). I did drink pain tablets and walked with a slight limp for a few days. But that was as far as it went; no other adverse effects thankfully.
As I reflect on that recent experience I am shuddering somewhat because it could have been worse. So many times, you read of people being struck by vehicles and they are flung into the air before landing on the road, often fatally. But I am here almost unscathed and I am just grateful and wanted to share these experiences.
There are so many bad experiences that one can share in this life and there is nothing wrong with doing so. But good ones should also be shared as the world and life is not all bad. I can hope that it is not so for most of us.
My sisters, life is not easy but when we can be kind (I have said this ad nauseam but it bears repeating) please do so. There is not enough kindness in this world and we all must do our bit.
Going off script now, but a word to my striking sisters (and brothers): know that I am with you. My children are affected, but I feel for you.
To the Minister of Education, who is a woman, listen to the mostly women teachers. They are not striking because of politics, it is simply because they want their standard of living to improve. There is absolutely no way most of them can live on their salaries, they have to have side businesses or be supported by their spouses and extended family.
I implore you to meet with the union and talk. The working conditions of some of our teachers are simply heartrending. Minister Priya Manickchand, if by some chance you are reading this, I am imploring you based on your kindness, to meet, talk and come to a compromise with our teachers; they are your teachers. Be kind minister, posting and reposting on Facebook does not cut it. Talk. Be kind.
