The Bigger Picture

Too often we become caught up in the tiring, annoying details of our daily lives and lose sight of the bigger picture.  We're worried about getting a nicer car, settling disputes over silly arguments, buying a new outfit for a date, etc.  Sure, these concerns are all important in context.  I'm not above any of them either, but I feel it's important to never lose focus of being thankful for what you DO have in your life.  Today an event at my office definitely put that back into perspective for me.

As my coworkers and I sat in our office discussing strategy and how we're going to handle the problems that face the company in the short and long term, a man walked into the building and began speaking with my CEO's assistant.  We couldn't hear what they were saying, but the man obviously looked tired as there were beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.  Now today was no scorcher by any means, but he certainly looked exhausted as if he had been walking through the desert with the sun beating down on him.

Mary, my CEO's assistant, walks in and says the man is looking for a job. He's willing to take any position whether it is packing boxes in the warehouse or answering customer service calls.  George, my CEO, walks out to speak with Ernesto.  Now, unbeknownst to us, our shipping manager actually asked for additional help in the shipping department 15 minutes earlier.  George walks Ernesto, who also speaks Spanish, which is very helpful since the shipping manager speak fluent Spanish, to meet his future boss.

When George comes back to the office with my coworkers and me, he explains to us the conversation that he had with the man.  It turns out that Ernesto walked the entire office park, which is quite massive, knocking on every single office door looking for a job.  It would take a normal person at least a week to even come close to reaching every office.  We don't know where he started and how far along into his journey we were, but he was able to find a job with us.  More importantly the journey itself, was his motivation for all of it.  He was doing this to feed his two kids.  He had no job and no income.  He was willing to do whatever it took to provide a life for his family.

The fascinating part of this story is that 45 minutes earlier, no one knew that we needed help in the shipping department.  That meeting my CEO and his shipping manager had created an opportunity for this dedicated man to provide a meal for kids.  The timing and coincidence of it all is just so spectacular. 

At the end of the day, all I could think about was what this guy was willing to do and how the problems I had on this day paled in comparison.  Now I know I'm not well off, but I have opportunity around me.  Whoever reads this, please take the time and appreciate what you have around you and don't take it granted.  There are too many times when we become so caught up in the superficiality of most problems that we forgot real struggles.  Now I know we all live tough lives in perspective, but we should never forget the blessings that we do have in this world.  Whenever you can, reflect on the good things that surround you and be thankful for them.  Appreciate them.  Love them.

Good Night.