There has been a lot of feedback and reaction to the New Beginnings entry posted on May 26, 2010. Much of that feedback have been kind words of encouragement, compliments and praises on a well-written article, and most importantly to me, comments on how relatable the post was. For all of the feedback, I thank you all.
Upon the success of the New Beginnings post, I found myself in a position today that not only made me think of that post, but the words and thoughts expressed in the post. As you can imagine, New Beginnings touched on finally overcoming uncertainty, failure, and adversity to get to a new point. And while I did realize that much of those hurdles and struggles were essential in creating this new start, never once was there a thought on the effects those experiences (which we often connect with negativity) had on others.
Today, on a rare free day with nothing to do for the first time in about a year, yours truly decided to make a few errands. One, which happened to be a visit to the post office. Upon parking and exiting the parking lot, I noticed an individual yelling, “Mr. Robo! Mr. Robo” from across the street. After a certain sense of confusion, I recognized the individual to be one of the members from the teen center where I previously worked who happened to be waiving me down. He was an alumni of the teen center program, and a soon to be twenty-one year old that I assisted many times in such aspects as resume assistance, career advice, workout programs, and the usual sports chatter.
“Mr. Robo! What’s up man? You wear shorts?”
Still amused that he addresses me as Mister despite being only four years my junior, I responded, “Ofcourse. You have to in this heat. Why are you wearing a shirt and tie? A better question is why are you wearing a sweater?”
“Well, just had an interview. One of the places you helped me apply too. Got the job, however, going to see if I can find something else better. Oh yeah, I start school again in the fall”
“That’s good! Congrats! Where are you headed now?”
“Well going to follow some more of your advice since it seems to be working. I am going to make my way down Flatbush Avenue dropping my resume off in every store and office I can. By the way, why weren’t you at the teen center yesterday. Some of the 6th graders were playing with fire in the hallway yesterday, and the 5th graders seem lost when you are not there. Some of these kids go crazy when you aren’t there.”
“I landed a new job. My last day was last Thursday.”
“What?! So you’re not coming back. Well good for you on graduating and finding a new job. Most of the older ones knew you wouldn’t be around too long, anyway. Well hopefully they find someone that can help everyone out the way you did with us. But I doubt it.”
After we departed and I entered the post office, I stood on line thinking about his words, and his excitement of finding a new job and heading back to college. I thought about how he felt like this day was a new chapter in his life. New job and back in school. Most importantly, I was amazed at the fate involved. It goes to show that in a time of uncertainty, one could greatly impact another individual, and create such a new beginning for them.
We can call those, “New Beginnings 1A.”
My father always told me when I was younger to greet others with warmth and a smile, as you could possibly make that person’s day. Once again, wisdom and age seem to be exclusive. He’s correct. “Our presence automatically liberates others”.
While sometimes we are so concerned with our own lives, our own chapters, and our own new beginnings, we don’t realize the participation and affect we have on creating those same new beginnings for others.
Today, luckily, I had the opportunity to experience that. And while it may not have been my new start in life, it was just as rewarding.