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September 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

“Hey Baby, Nice Wheels”

Dear Motorcycle Pick-Up Artist, I've gotta say: I admire your moxie. It's rare (or maybe not as rare as I think) to see a guy on a crotch rocket picking up girls at stop lights. I suppose it makes a lot of sense considering you can drive right up to their window and use some whitty pick-up line like "Hey, nice wheels." But as I saw you chatting up the brunnette who had her head hanging out the window of her red, topless jeep, I saw that you were a man of opportunity. Taking advantage of time that would have otherwise been wasted sitting still in the hot summer heat, you had the opportunity to fill up your weekend schedule. I wonder how many opportunities I've missed because I've been just too oblivious or self focused to recognize. How many times have I blown off the chance to jump head first into a truly great adventure because I was busy concentrating on the red light turning green as opposed to looking out my window and taking in the scene around me. Picking up girls at red lights isn't my thing. But who knows, maybe my next adventure will be right in front of me tomorrow. (I just have to keep my eyes open).
Filed Under: Life Tagged With: ,
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June 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lessons From Creeping a Crotch Rocket Poser

Dear Crotch Rocket Poser, Judging by the size of the trophy you were holding while posing and throwing up what looked to be gang signs in front of your canary yellow crotch rocket, you must have won some sort of big competition. As I watched the photographer snap shots of you and your prize from the 4th story window overlooking the abandoned parking lot you now occupied, I realized that you had no idea I was watching you. (I felt a little bit like a creeper but that didn't last long). I began to wonder how often people are watching us without our knowing. Probably more often than we'd like to know. What kind of message are we sending with our actions or with the overheard words we say? I cringe at the thought. PS - Contratulations on whatever contest you won. -Dave
Filed Under: Actions Tagged With: ,
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Will Your Thinking Change My Actions?

Dear Lone Strider, Something struck me as I watched your relatively emotionless body head down the sidewalk to God knows where: I have no idea what you're thinking. This may seem like an obviously dumb thing to say, but I'm serious. I have no idea if you're happy or sad. No idea if you just had lunch with someone you love or if you just lost your job. I have no idea if you're shocked from just winning the lottery or if you're somber as you're about to end your life. The big question for me is if I have this knowledge, would it change my actions? Would I stop to congratulate you on recent success? Would I stop to encourage you if life took an unexpected downturn? Would stop and try to find you help if I knew you couldn't take this life anymore? What I realized is that we ignorantly carry on from day to day as the world passes us by. It's unrealistic to think that an individual can be there for everyone, but what if it was just a handful. I'd like to believe that part of our roles as humans is to look out for one another; and this extends beyond those immediately around you. I truly hope you're having a good day. And who knows, maybe next time I see you, you'll have some good news to share. -Dave
Filed Under: Presence Tagged With: , ,
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June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Moments We’ll Never Miss

Dear Door Holder, I appreciated your gesture; I really did. The few moments you took out of your day to wait for me to catch so I didn't have to open the door myself was not lost me. It was actually contagious as I the door for the next person. One thought did strike me as interesting though. Taking time out of our day and holding a door is something most of do as a gesture of goodwill, yet most of us are fully capable of opening doors ourselves. We do it because inherently, we want to help others and because it's convenient. But what would happen if we took those moments and helped someone with something they can't do for themselves? What if we even went out of our way? Maybe it's as easy as helping a single mom load her groceries while she takes care of her kids. Maybe it's more elaborate like cooking a meal once a week for someone who is unable. As I passed through the door you kindly held for me, I realized that you'd never miss those moments. You'll never ask for them back. How many moments do I have in a day that I can give? -Dave
Filed Under: Humanity Tagged With: ,