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How I learned about compassion & encouragement:
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The first time I ever saw what true and genuine compassion was, was in my teenage years when me and my cousin Hery Irizarry (Edito), who is like my brother, were on our way upstairs to the addict to use drugs when he stopped and looked out the window and saw a relative outside shoveling snow all by himself.
My cousin, stopped and I said, “I gotta help him”, and he went back downstairs and went outside to help. I was a very selfish and uneducated person at the time and was baffled and confused as to why he would choose to help someone over getting high. |
It took me many years to realize that at the very moment he had “compassion” to help someone else over himself. He felt sorry for him and went out to help him right away. That was one of the best and most genuine examples of showing compassion that has come back to affect me in a positive manner today, more than 20 years later. He may have forgotten, but I will never forget. A good man with a good heart - he showed me what true and genuine compassion really was and I’m thankful to still have my cousin, my brother in my life today.
Words of encouragement:
Several years later, in my mid-20’s, I found myself working 2 full time jobs: a 1st shift job at a print shop during the day and a 3rd shift job at the 7-11 convenient store during the night till 6:30am in the morning.
I was always tired most of the time. But one morning, right before my shift ended at 7-11, this Hispanic man brought his items to the counter and must have known that I was struggling at the time, because just as he walked out of the store he said the words, “adelante” from his heart which meant to keep moving forward, just keep moving forward, and all of a sudden I got a lot of energy, like a burst of energy and started to work faster and felt positive, hopeful and more energetic. |
I still can’t explain it in words. But I’ll never forget that moment. His words of encouragement helped me in more ways than I can explain and still has a positive effect upon me till this very day.
More words of encouragement:
Then there’s Norman, (bringing it to today), a man in his late 50’s or early 60’s with 1 leg and a prosthetic leg for the other. He lived across the street from me in the roughest apartment complex in the area. Every day he walked to the plaza to make ends meet. He doesn’t asks for money, instead he asks to wash the windows of your car. That’s how he makes a living. That’s just the way it is. But every time I see him, he draws compassion from me and I make it a point to give to him whenever I can. But the gratitude and appreciation he showed me is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
He literally hugs me and encourages ME to keep moving forward as I go on my way. “Adelante” he tells me. Keep moving forward. He feels that I am a blessing to him, but in reality he is more of a blessing to me in more ways than one. Wish I could do more for him, and hopefully someday I will. But how we treat people is so important. And the way he treated me will leave a positive effect upon me for the rest of my life.
He literally hugs me and encourages ME to keep moving forward as I go on my way. “Adelante” he tells me. Keep moving forward. He feels that I am a blessing to him, but in reality he is more of a blessing to me in more ways than one. Wish I could do more for him, and hopefully someday I will. But how we treat people is so important. And the way he treated me will leave a positive effect upon me for the rest of my life.
Be kind to others:
And one last one... There was a young Hispanic man who would ask people for spare change in the plaza shopping center. I gave him my change a couple of times and then he stopped asking and just said hello to me in a brotherly manner whenever he saw me. Not too long ago I ran into him again. He didn’t ask me for anything, he just wanted to talk. Within minutes, he opened up to me and told me that he was using dope – heroin, and told me that he wanted to get out of that life.
He was actually going through withdrawals at that very moment and was in a hurry to keep walking. But he gave me enough time to give him the SAMHSA national substance abuse helpline phone number and have him save the number on his cell phone. I told him to call the phone number and ask for help. And who knows, maybe someday he will make the call. In the mean time I will hope for the best for him. But by not just walking by him when he asked me for change eventually gave me an opportunity to help him and give him the 800 help number (a life line) and showed him that there are people out there who do care.
You just never know what can happen and what can come out of any situation that may come your way. Anything is possible. Anything can happen. Anything can change. And as a counselor friend once told me, “it’s better to do good than to do nothing at all”, LDA.
He was actually going through withdrawals at that very moment and was in a hurry to keep walking. But he gave me enough time to give him the SAMHSA national substance abuse helpline phone number and have him save the number on his cell phone. I told him to call the phone number and ask for help. And who knows, maybe someday he will make the call. In the mean time I will hope for the best for him. But by not just walking by him when he asked me for change eventually gave me an opportunity to help him and give him the 800 help number (a life line) and showed him that there are people out there who do care.
You just never know what can happen and what can come out of any situation that may come your way. Anything is possible. Anything can happen. Anything can change. And as a counselor friend once told me, “it’s better to do good than to do nothing at all”, LDA.
Moral of the story… through these and other experiences in my life I’ve learned to try to be as kind as possible to everyone; to treat everyone as best as you can; to show compassion to everyone, especially to those less fortunate than us because you never know what they’re going through. I’ve learned that how we treat people and words of encouragement can have a positive and long lasting effect upon us for the rest of our lives. And I’m going to try to do my best to become a better person as best as I can and put all of these things into practice in my own life very chance I get. Thank you for reading. Any may only good things and good people come your way.
Sincerely,
Jorge (George) Fernandez
Over 20 Years Clean from Heroin
About Jorge (George) Fernandez
Contact Jorge (George) Fernandez
Feel free to add me on Facebook
Sincerely,
Jorge (George) Fernandez
Over 20 Years Clean from Heroin
About Jorge (George) Fernandez
Contact Jorge (George) Fernandez
Feel free to add me on Facebook
Speak to a treatment specialist now. Call: 1.855.970.2547
Call 1.855.970.2547, 24/7 to speak to a treatment specialist for free. Get help finding the best treatment options available for yourself or a loved one. Rehab centers, detox centers, inpatient, outpatient programs, therapy, counseling, sober living housing and more. A 5 minute phone call is all it takes to get you the help you need. Get help now. Call: 1.855.970.2547
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