While waiting for my flight back from Denver on Sunday morning, I engaged in one of my favorite airport activities—people watching. As I noticed my fellow travelers move around the airport restaurant, I thought to myself, “Every one of them has a story.”
Although I don’t recall hearing many stories while sitting in airports, I’ve certainly had my share of fascinating seatmates on long journeys.
One of those was a weary traveler I’ll call Sam that I met in Newark. Like me, he was heading back to Minneapolis after a trip to London. Unlike me, his day had been filled with travel detours and delays.
When he finally seated himself, I asked a simple question, “Are you coming or going?” He told me he was going home. When we discovered that we’d both been in the UK to lead seminars for entrepreneurs, we bonded instantly.
Then Sam told me a story I’ll never forget. He said he was flying to Los Angeles to give a talk and was seated in first class next to an elderly, inexperienced traveler. Although my new friend had planned to spend the flight working on his presentation, his seatmate was in need of help.
Sam abandoned his own plans and decided to see what he could do.
When dinner arrived, the older man found it difficult to cut up his food, so Sam helped him out. When he needed to go to the plane’s restroom, he told Sam he was nervous about doing so. Sam took him to the toilet and even helped him zip up his pants. He then helped him back to his seat.
Throughout it all, Sam said, there was never any word of thanks offered, but that didn’t keep him from assisting the man.
Upon landing, the wheelchair that had been ordered didn’t arrive so Sam stayed with the fellow until he was united with his relatives.
The next day, Sam delivered his talk to a professional organization sharing his thoughts on service. At the end of his talk, a man in the audience stood up and said, “We hear a lot of speakers talking about lofty things and I often wonder if they live up to their words. I just want everyone here to know that I was on the same flight as Sam yesterday and watched him as he cared for the elderly man sitting next to him.”
Sam was, of course, quite surprised by the voluntary testimonial, but said he’s never forgotten the experience.
He told me, “It’s easy in our populated world to think we can remain anonymous and to some extent that’s true. However, we never know who might be watching us as we go about our lives.”
Someone has suggested that we can tell a great deal about someone’s character by observing how they treat waiters and cab drivers—or total strangers seated next to them on a long flight.
I’m a ‘people watcher’, too, and regardless of what I observe, I always come back to the same conclusion. We have so much more in common with each other than what divides us.
Yes. No accident that some of the world’s greatest leaders like to spend time incognito, watching how people treat those lower on the totem pole.
A couple of years ago, I read a story on one of the discussion boards I used to frequent.
Richard was setting up a Theatre for underprivileged children and had an appointment with a group of community leaders at a coffee shop in a bookstore. The meeting was not fruitful for him as they didn’t see the same thing as he did.
An elderly lady sitting at the next table wanted to know where the place was located and what it was called. Richard gave her the information as he left somewhat disappointed.
A couple of days later, he opened an envelope, and to his surprise there was a check for $25,000 from the old lady in the bookstore.
You are right. You NEVER know who is watching.
Rasheed
Cool story, Rasheed. I suspect the kindness of strangers happens everywhere, all the time, but mostly goes unreported and unnoticed (by grumps).