Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people and that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one is willing to lend them a hand without reward.
This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. Diego Rivera is a shining example.
A masterful saxophonist with more than 20 years of crowd-pleasing music, Rivera has been widely acclaimed for his live performances and studio albums. A captivating musician solo and with The Diego Rivera Quartet, along with being a composer and arranger with numerous credits, his albums Hercules, Connections, The Contender, and Indigenous are works of art.
An educator also, Rivera is a tenured Associate Professor of Jazz Saxophone and Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University.
While good at what he does, he’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked Diego Rivera to tell me about a time when he did something nice for someone that he didn’t know. Here’s what he shared.
“I was at a friend’s gig and saw this elderly lady. She looked confused and out of place, you could just see it in her eyes. So I said, ‘Ma’am, are you alright? Can I help you?’
She almost couldn’t speak because she was so arrested. She said, ‘I just can’t find my keys.’ I said, ‘Okay, we’ll figure this out together.’
I was looking around, under the table, and they happened to just be in the seat. I grabbed them and gave them to her.
It wasn’t about the keys, though. Something else was bothering her, but I didn’t really talk to her about it. But I could see just taking the time to help her, something as simple as that, cooled her out and made her feel better about whatever was troubling her.
I don’t know what compelled me. I just got a feeling. The hairs on the back of my neck. Something told me she needs help. At first glance I thought it was something really significant. I’ve seen people have strokes or just bouts with confusion, or something like that. I had to see what was going on.
It just happened to be keys, but I think it was something else. The keys were probably like the last straw. Sometimes just asking if they need help is helping. Sometimes people feel like their pain is invisible to other people.
When I sense people are in need, if I can help I will.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
Our Shining Example column features a remarkable person sharing an inspiring personal story about an act of kindness.
“We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” – ‘We Are the World’
