Sableye~
Back to PC~
- 4,016
- Posts
- 11
- Years
- Seen Jan 4, 2018
While I was standing in a store earlier today, a man in a wheelchair turned into the aisle that I was in. I halfway smiled to avoid seeming unfriendly, but avoided eye contact and simply stepped out of his way. He, however, made eye contact with me and I realized that he intended to speak to me.
There were several people around, but he approached me directly and, smiling, asked me what my name was. I introduced myself, then asked him (in an attempt to seem friendly) the same question. He announced his full name. After a moment of silence, he glanced at the people standing around me and asked if he could "tell us his story".
Upon seeing that the person standing next to me was interested, he began to tell us about how he was injured at work and how he had been in a coma, that he's had to be in therapy for over 10 years, and now he has to have surgery before he can walk. The entire time he was talking to us, his hand was propped at an awkward angle, as though he couldn't let it lay normally. His mouth was twisted slightly, and it sounded as though he had to put more effort into speaking than one normally would.
Despite this, he was still smiling. Still joking around with us. At one point, he commented to me that if things aren't going well, you have to stop and think, "What would (his name) do?"
Meeting someone like that brings things into perspective. It lets you realize that you own problems, though they may be difficult for you to cope with, are small compared to what could be. Sure, it could have been an act. Who knows why people do what they do?
Regardless of whether or not that man was telling the truth, the point still remains. There are people like him who take on life, despite their troubles...despite how little hope there seems to be.
Perhaps that was why he told us. Or maybe he just a bit confused and didn't know that to be approached by a stranger and told about his life is a bit odd.
Hopefully my little story has made you think a little. Living it definitely has made me think. Though life can be hard, I'm grateful that mine is as it is and I would never change it.
There were several people around, but he approached me directly and, smiling, asked me what my name was. I introduced myself, then asked him (in an attempt to seem friendly) the same question. He announced his full name. After a moment of silence, he glanced at the people standing around me and asked if he could "tell us his story".
Upon seeing that the person standing next to me was interested, he began to tell us about how he was injured at work and how he had been in a coma, that he's had to be in therapy for over 10 years, and now he has to have surgery before he can walk. The entire time he was talking to us, his hand was propped at an awkward angle, as though he couldn't let it lay normally. His mouth was twisted slightly, and it sounded as though he had to put more effort into speaking than one normally would.
Despite this, he was still smiling. Still joking around with us. At one point, he commented to me that if things aren't going well, you have to stop and think, "What would (his name) do?"
Meeting someone like that brings things into perspective. It lets you realize that you own problems, though they may be difficult for you to cope with, are small compared to what could be. Sure, it could have been an act. Who knows why people do what they do?
Regardless of whether or not that man was telling the truth, the point still remains. There are people like him who take on life, despite their troubles...despite how little hope there seems to be.
Perhaps that was why he told us. Or maybe he just a bit confused and didn't know that to be approached by a stranger and told about his life is a bit odd.
Hopefully my little story has made you think a little. Living it definitely has made me think. Though life can be hard, I'm grateful that mine is as it is and I would never change it.