Steve > Me
05 02 10 - 20:14 Category: .
I met Steve on the MAX today. Despite my little interaction w/ him I believe he is a fantastic individual, and here's why:
A woman about my age got on the MAX this evening on the phone, I couldn't hear her conversation because I was wearing my headphones. Just a minute later she got off her phone, and she looked visibly upset. That upset quickly turned into fighting back tears.
I had no idea what was going on in her life, but I felt so sad for her. I wanted to do something for her, but there was nothing I could do. I, unfortunately, do not have the magic to fix problems. She looked so distraught, like something had just upset her life in a very helpless way.
I thought about approaching her and simply saying "I'm sorry. For whatever it is, I'm sorry that you're having to go through it right now." But what is that? It's nothing really. A part of me feels that people just need to know someone cares, and often that someone is listening (when appropriate of course). But I think it mostly comes across as strange, especially were it to come from a stranger. I personally believe that being alone is part of the problem when people face tough times, and anything you can do to alleviate that might help.
I didn't approach her. I didn't want to risk making her uncomfortable. What would I have said? I most certainly couldn't have done anything. So I just watched and wished that I could do something for her.
As the MAX was stopping, this guy came up and talked to her. I couldn't see her reaction too well, and I couldn't hear them either. he talked to her for a minute, and then he and I both got off the MAX. I was walking next to him and asked him what he had said to her. He told me he'd overheard her phone conversation, and that her wallet had been stolen. All her ID and her methods of accessing money were gone. The bank wasn't being helpful. So what did he do? He told her he'd been through it too. He also gave her $20. On some levels just giving people money seems like a cop out, but then she just lost her wallet. It was more than I did. He also had her smiling as he got off the MAX.
I think it's hard to separate giving money to make a problem go away and giving money as an honest effort to help someone in the best way you can. When I was talking to him the best I could do was tell him that I appreciated his actions and to thank him for it. That was all I had. We got to walk and chat for a little bit, and I think he's a fantastic individual. I hope to run into him again.
This event made my day and it got me thinking what could I do? I don't have any readily applicable skill to give. I work in accounting. The ability to do journal entries and tax returns really doesn't apply on a great scale in the community service level. So far I've just done my best to get my coworkers to like the place they work.
At the least, I'm going to lobby my firm this spring to start approaching non-profits with offers to do their IRS filings at significantly reduced prices, if not for free. If we could get the partners to even agree to let each staff accountant in the office to do one organization's filing that's ten or so organizations we could be helping out. Hell, give me another five years of experience and I'll have the confidence to offer to do it myself without any review.
I think someday I'll end up working for a community organization. That day will have to wait until I no longer need the high income offered by public accounting, but I'll get there eventually.
This might not count, but.. either. he is not correct.
Kyle - 05-02-’10 21:36