The things that reached out and grabbed me from this speech were quotes from Melinda Gates. (No disrespect to Bill -- he had quite a lot of good things to say also.) But I just couldn't help but see everything that Melinda said through the prism of cancer: what a horror it is and how important it is that we NOT look away from the suffering it brings:
"In the course of your lives, you'll come to see suffering that will break your heart. When it happens, and it will, don't turn away from it. Turn toward it. That is the moment that change is born."
...
"No matter how much suffering we see -- no matter how bad it is -- we can help people if we don't lose hope, and if we don't look away."It's our responsibility as adult humans to not look away; to not turn away, and most importantly to not just wish someone's suffering away. It's our responsibility to take action; to try our best to be optimistic -- and be optimistic because we can take action.
You and I know people who are suffering; I know that I certainly don't have to look too hard. And maybe I can't fix their suffering -- but then perhaps that's not the entire point. To be seen and heard by someone; to have someone at least recognize your pain instead of pretending it's not there; to have someone do a small kindness for you -- none these things are a cure, but they are powerful medicine -- that any of us can administer.
OK. So I can't cure cancer myself. But I will be optimistic because I know that there are so many things I can still do that will help someone who may be suffering.
I can raise money to help them.
I could share a joke with them
I could buy them a fancy coffee drink from Dunkin Donuts.
I could mow their yard.
Something. Anything. Any of these trivial things serves a purpose: to remind each of us that we are all human and deserve to be seen, heard and treated with dignity and kindness.
Just please, don't look away.
/doug
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