Short true story.
Dr Maria Athanasiou MD, MFOM, MBA
Occupational Health Expert - Leading Medical Director - Occupational Health and Performance Management Consulting, Serving and Working With Thriving HR Professionals Globally
When: Yesterday 20th?November 2021 early evening.
Where: somewhere in the over-crowded Oxford Street.
I was walking with a friend of mine amongst the crowd, when my friend noticed that in front of me, on the pavement, there was a ￡5 note.?
“ Look” she said!?
“ I saw it...” I replied and?with a quick squat I?took the note from the ground and turned to her to give it to her. “You saw it first...” I said!
“ So, our coffee is on me then” she said and we both smiled.
In short distance ahead, we saw an old woman (homeless?or?not, nobody knows but... little matters) panhandling/begging for some money and food. She was dressed in dirty clothes and looked really exhausted and desparate.
My friend turned to the lady and gave her the note of ￡5. The lady responded by smiling back, whispering something. I am not sure I heard what she said because of the background noise.
“The coffee is on me today... not on my luck to find a ￡5 on the streets”?
I smiled back again and behind my smile there was a feeling of admiration and positivity; integrity and empathy are qualities that still exist and bring small little sunshines in peoples’ lives.?
It takes nothing to be empathetic and kind. For some people it may mean everything!
(PS: I am proud of my friend. I told her when I got off the train on my way back home.)?