My Big Brother

The following entry may not be my best writing, as i do not feel very creative today, however recent events have left me inspired and i fear that if i dont get them out that they may fade and want more than anything to chronicle my current train of thought. I apologize for the length. I had a lot to say.

Years ago, my brother and i decided to get an apartment together. As anyone would do in searching for an apartment, we found a few places that met our criteria and set out on a mission to perhaps consider each of them as our future home. We ventured forth on this quest of ours one day but as my brother dove us to our second stop we witnessed a car accident. I do not recall the details exactly, but it seemed a car had ran a red light and slammed in to the rear end of an older car that had seen better days. Upon impact the older cars trunk popped open, vomiting an assortment of clothing. Right away it was clear that the accident was minor and that nobody was hurt but as i sat there thinking to myself "man, thats gotta suck. That guy has to pick up all his shit right in the middle of that intersection", my brother already had his car door open, and was making his way towards the mess to help the guy gather his belongings. He reacted instantly without consideration for his own mission to view the afore mentioned apartment, or how it could possible set his day back. He just saw someone in need, and helped.

After the accident, i thought a great deal to myself why my brother did what he did. Even more so, HOW he did what he did.

I wouldnt say i was a selfish person back there, however i existed in a state where most of us find ourselves. We witness someone trying to reach the top shelf in a supermarket, or a backpack unzipped mere moments from spilling its vital contents, and we pass by considering, "should i, or shouldnt i help this person?". Carefully weighing the pros and cons of the situation. Only, by the time you have reached your conclusion the moment has passed. Perhaps this is the introvert in me talking, perhaps it is the selfish side of me taking hold. Either way, its how i thought back then.

It was clear to me right away that what my brother had done was a simple, yet amazing thing that i wished i could do. From that day forth i made it my own personal goal to react the same way he did that day.

This one incident in my life has taken hold, and created some rather radical (by my standards) decisions. Im going to tell you about two of them now. Not because i want to prove to you - the reader - that i am a good person. I do it only because if you hear these stories, perhaps this rogue idea will creep its way into your mind, and you too will find a calming resolve to lifes little problems. I start with a minor situation that required 5 seconds of my time.

A few weeks ago i was standing in the U-Scan check out lane, and the (extremely) old man in front of me had droped a rather large clutch of US currency. it was a a fold of 20 dollar bills about a quarter inch thick. My brain instantly formed a list of possibles, from "wait till he walks away, and keep the money" to "Dont do a thing. its none of your business". As i started to consider my options, my brothers effortless reaction came to me, and without hesitation, i bent down to pick up the fold and alert the man that he had dropped it.

A simple story to some of you, but a great achievement for me. my second story happened to me this morning, and is why i am currently writing this.

This morning as i exited the expressway i noticed a guy a little younger than me standing behind his car at the end of the exit ramp. It seemed his car had died, and he was attempting to push it on to the shoulder as to not impede the flow of traffic. Quicker than ever, i thought of that fabled day where my brother helped the mystery man collect his clothing off of the pavement. I pulled up behind my distressed mystery man, and asked if he needed help. With a sigh of relief he explained to me that he had ran out of gas. Before he could say another word, i had my cars hazard lights on, and was helping him push his car to safety. I offered him a ride to a gas station down the road where he could purchase a gallon of gas in a portable container and get back on the road. As we drove to the gas station, he explained to me that i was the only one who had even asked him if he needed help. This shocked me.

It was at this time that i realized that i was on the other side of the fence. My brothers actions years ago had finally taken root, and i no longer considered my own setbacks by helping an individual in need. For some of you, this may seem obvious, however is it really? If i were to have read this years ago, i would also conclude that helping was the right thing. But if you cant think of the last time you helped someone in need, then perhaps you should consider my brothers actions as i have.

It was a great feeling, helping this guy out today, but it made me wonder why nobody else stopped. Why didnt anyone else ask if this guy needed help? As i thought about this on my final leg to work, i came to a rather simple answer.

I suppose those people just didnt have a big brother as great as mine.

-Demo