How Giving a Sandwich to a Stranger Changed Their View of Our Country

Earlier this month, I recorded a podcast episode about this story. But it’s such a powerful lesson that it deserves more airtime than one 15-minute episode.?

Read this, and please, if it touches your heart as much as it did mine, forward it to a friend. Share it with your colleagues.

I was leading a group of men and women on a 5-day Make Bold Moves? Retreat in the Grand Canyon earlier this month. As we hiked down the South Kaibab trail, a couple stopped and asked how far I thought it was to the bottom of the canyon.

At this point, we were approximately halfway down the trail.

They looked in shape, and wanted the most grand experience possible (every pun intended), while being safe in the process.

It turns out they are from South Korea, and wouldn’t be visiting the Grand Canyon in the future.

So I started asking them questions.?“Do you have enough water?”

They responded, "Yes."

“How about a power pack if you run out of battery on your phone?”

"Yes."

“Do you have a headlamp and microspikes if you hike in the dark?”

"Yes, and yes."

“How about food? Do you have enough food?”

And their response, “No, this is what we are concerned about.”

Good judgment is something that we as leaders need to use. Judging where others are in their process in order to encourage them to stretch and grow out of their comfort zone.?

It’s never about pushing someone. It’s about standing beside them with a belief that they can do what they wouldn’t have done otherwise.

So, after asking the questions and hearing what I did, I took my pack off, opened it, and found my lunch. I handed my sandwich to this couple and gave instructions.

“Go have fun,” I said.

“If you aren't coming back to this place, you need to embrace and experience it today. Take it all in. Get to the bottom, eat this sandwich, refill your water down there, and hike out at your pace. You might miss the bus, but here is a number to call if you have to get a taxi to pick you up. If you hike in the dark, be smart and careful, and go as slow as you need to. Enjoy the stars. You will be pushed a bit, and it will be worth it. If you happen to need to turn around before you get to the bottom, that’s fine, too. But now you have what you need. Just HAVE FUN.”

They didn’t want to take my sandwich, but I insisted. I didn’t need the food as much as they did for this epic adventure.

So they took the sandwich and hiked down.

My group and I were still hiking down when we ran into them hiking back out. And wow, were they happy! We took a picture together and exchanged social media handles.?

When I hiked out of the Grand Canyon with my group a few days later, I opened my Instagram and found this message.?

This is where I say, “You never know the impact you can have on another person until you put yourself out there, and sometimes, in their shoes.” One moment can even move how they view a country.

This message touched my soul.?

I’m not a famous speaker, but in his eyes, because of the motivation I provided, I am. And, reading those words gave me validation that I am on the right path in my keynote speaking career to create an impact that will - ultimately - make my work even more known.?

The three of us meeting was a true serendipitous gift, for all of us.

Because of a sandwich.

So my question to you is, what will be the equivalent of your sandwich that you give to another this week?

Where can you lead, motivate, and encourage another person to step and grow a bit more? To have experiences that they wouldn’t have otherwise?

What sandwich will you take from another this week that will encourage you to live more boldly, too?

I’d love to hear in the comments, or hit reply and share with me!

Ready to be a part of our last Co-ed Make Bold Moves? Grand Canyon Retreat of 2024?

Join us from June 9th-13th. Includes a 3-month weekly coaching journey that will transform how you live and work. Message me and let's talk.

Looking for a motivating speaker to Make Bold Moves? in your organization or business? Choose from one of these topics:

• Make Bold Moves? in Mental Health/Mindset: Rise above the fray and soar to where anything is possible.
• Descend to Ascend: Navigating the Corporate Landscape with Resilience, Leadership, and Vision

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And please, forward this to anyone who you think could use what is here.

Have a beautiful day!?

xo

Sara