Kindness Is Everywhere
– Musings of Dr. Jamie Hsu, 7.18.2019
It is heartwarming to see a total stranger holding an umbrella for someone in a wheelchair. He is too focused on shielding her to notice the soaking rain on his shoulder. His caring expands beyond the umbrella’s reach.
It is touching to see an immigrant who owns a fast food restaurant offer free meals to homeless people every day. This warm gesture and his compassion inspire many customers and neighbors to also pitch in or donate. Another buffet restaurant owner, also an immigrant, has given away 80,000 free meals to the homeless who come through his door.
In the midst of sensationalized reports about crime and bad news, we often miss the beauty of humankind. Kindness is everywhere if you pay attention around you.
During my recent trip to Asia, in newspapers thousands of miles away, there were similar stories of kindness. In Taiwan, a 9-year old boy named Lin Chen Zhe grew his hair for three years so he could donate it to cancer patients. He endured teasing from his friends and the hassle of managing his long hair on a daily basis. It took a lot of courage for him and his parents to face the constant stares and ridicule.
Similarly, in the United States, a boy named Thomas Moore spent over two years growing his Afro for cancer patients. As his hair grew longer he needed it kept in tight braids, which was uncomfortable and hurt his scalp. He thought about quitting, but he endured and succeeded.
There is a saying that “the best leaders blend compassion with courage.” These two young boys will certainly grow to be great leaders someday. And the two restaurant owners, with their focus on people and kindness, will undoubtedly see their businesses grow and flourish.
The world is full of people like them and there is kindness everywhere. Let us embrace these people, be courageous and be compassionate. And celebrate the kindness around and among us.
溫馨滿人間
–作者 許俊宸博士
–中譯 薛乃綺
看到一個陌生人為坐在輪椅上的人撐傘的畫面，真的感到很溫暖。那個人因為太專注在幫輪椅上的她遮雨，完全沒注意到滴落在自己肩膀上的雨水。這份關懷早已超出了那把傘能遮蔽的範圍。
讓人感動的還有一家快餐店，老闆是從外地移民過來的，每天都為無家可歸的人提供免費的食物。這種溫暖的態度及同理心，也鼓勵了許多顧客跟鄰居一起參與或贊助。另一家自助餐廳的老闆，也是個移民人，已經提供給流浪無家的人8萬份免費的餐食。
在聽過關於駭人聽聞的犯罪消息跟報導的同時，我們也要常常想起人性的美好。只要你留心，就會發現這份善念處處都在。
在最近的亞洲旅遊中，遠在千里也有類似的善行。在台灣，有個9歲的小男孩叫林竣宥，蓄髮3年為了捐給癌症病友。他忍受別人的嘲笑跟每天整理長髮的麻煩。除了他自己，他的父母也要面對忍受外界持續的特異眼光跟询問 。
無獨有偶的，美國也有個叫Thomas Moore的小男孩，為了癌友留了兩年非洲式長髮。隨著頭髮變長，他必須綁著很緊的辮子，這不但很不舒服，而且還會傷害頭皮。他想要放棄，但最終克服並且成功完成了。
有句話說，” 最好的領導者同时擁有勇氣和富有同情心 ”。我相信，這兩個男孩長大後，一定能成為很棒的領導者。剛剛提到的那兩個餐廳老闆，也因為他們對於人們的關懷與善心，餐廳的生意肯定也能蒸蒸日上。
這個世上到處都有像他們這樣的人，使人間充滿愛。讓我們擁抱這些勇敢、富有同情心的人；並且慶幸周圍仍然有许多善心的人讓溫馨滿人間。希望我们都能成為撒佈溫馨的人。
