Hit & Run

On my way out of my neighborhood Stop & Shop this past Sunday afternoon, I was hit by a car.

Here I was minding my own business, pushing my shopping cart to my car when a reckless driver slammed into the side of my cart as I tried to run out of the way. Once she had realized what she had done, she stared at me blankly through her window and proceeded to drive away without so much as an “I’m sorry”. To make matters worse, not one other person in the parking lot took a moment to ask if I was O.K., despite having seen the whole thing. But then, when we spend so much time worrying about ourselves, who has time to show concern for another human being? This is the world we live in. It isn’t even safe to go to the grocery store anymore. Regard for human life is just not high enough on our list of priorities.

Sometimes it seems like “I” is the only factor considered in anything, ever. Think about it. We see this kind of mindset everywhere we look; this “every man for himself” philosophy. If it weren’t for what I do for a living and for the people that I am surrounded with on a daily basis, this is what I would think of the world. But I know better. I know that there are people who care for others’ well being and whose visions of the world stretch beyond themselves. I know that there are those who will take the time to stop and ask if someone needs help even when their misfortune has nothing to do with them, and who will willingly fight to help those individuals get back on their feet. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.

Of course, not everyone does the right thing. Whoever was driving that car this weekend sure didn’t, those people who watched the whole thing happen didn’t, and we deal with banks on a daily basis that don’t either. I’ve heard my boss tell our clients over and over again that a failing business in this economy is not their fault. Their obligations to the banks they’ve taken loans from have been met to the best of their ability, and as only ONE of the parties involved in the agreement, they shouldn’t be the only ones subject to the risk that comes with running a business. The fact that the bank doesn’t see it that way makes no difference to us; we can break through that “me” mentality and reach a settlement that our client can live with. Not because we’re paid to. Not because we’re obligated. But because it’s the right thing to do.

We have a different list of priorities here… When we see a person in need, we don’t just look away: we stop, and extend a hand.