A couple of weeks ago, I was in the local store where a deaf man from the public housing block next to my building was lined up waiting to be served. A tall Indigenous man, who quite obviously was living with a mental illness and had let his appearance go.
I noticed the stares others in the store were directing at him, the joke and subsequent laugh at his expense by a young couple. I also noticed his distress.
“Hey man, how you doing?”, I said with a smile. “You good?” His face lit up, and although he couldn’t speak, we communicated (I spoke, he grunted) but most importantly he smiled, with his mouth and eyes.
Everybody else in the store then smiled at him and directed some warmth to him as well.
We left the store at the same time and went in different directions, but he called out (grunted) three times as he walked off. Waving and smiling with both his mouth, and eyes.
Gave up my cab to a woman with young children on a cold wet night
Ensured the footpath in front of my house and neighbours houses were cleared of seed that people couple easily slip on.
Paid toll for unknown driver behind me.
Helped an elderly neighbour by referring her to social services after she asked for my help. Brought her some food will go back and visit her.
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the local store where a deaf man from the public housing block next to my building was lined up waiting to be served. A tall Indigenous man, who quite obviously was living with a mental illness and had let his appearance go.
I noticed the stares others in the store were directing at him, the joke and subsequent laugh at his expense by a young couple. I also noticed his distress.
“Hey man, how you doing?”, I said with a smile. “You good?” His face lit up, and although he couldn’t speak, we communicated (I spoke, he grunted) but most importantly he smiled, with his mouth and eyes.
Everybody else in the store then smiled at him and directed some warmth to him as well.
We left the store at the same time and went in different directions, but he called out (grunted) three times as he walked off. Waving and smiling with both his mouth, and eyes.
Gave up my cab to a woman with young children on a cold wet night
Ensured the footpath in front of my house and neighbours houses were cleared of seed that people couple easily slip on.
Paid toll for unknown driver behind me.
Helped an elderly neighbour by referring her to social services after she asked for my help. Brought her some food will go back and visit her.