On Saturday, we were in NYC with our friends. It was “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” except for us it was, “Ferrys, Bikes, and Feet.” On our “Feet” portion of the trek, we walked across town on 23rd street for about a mile. This street was bustling as you would expect on a gorgeous, sunny fall afternoon and on the eve of the NYC marathon—it felt like Christmastime without the decorations and the frigid temperature. 

As we crossed town, we were constantly jockeying for position on the sidewalk as no one kept the same pace. At one point, I almost bumped into a man in front of me who had stopped. It caught me off guard, so I looked up to see why we all had stopped walking. Instantly, my heart sank. It was a young, blind man trying to navigate an unexpected raised flowerbed around a tree. A Good Samaritan had stopped to explain what was in front of him, all the while holding him gently by the crook of his arm until he could get past the raised bed. The kindness and trust exhibited by both warmed my heart. It changed my day.

Can you even imagine being blind, much less navigating the streets of NYC—alone? I can’t! Can you imagine how much bravery it took to even leave his house? I can’t. We all know the quote, “Do something everyday that scares you,” and presumably, we’ve heard it so much that we don’t even respond anymore. But today, I want us all to close are eyes (do it now, if you can) and imagine leaving our homes without the advantage of sight. It’s terrifying, isn’t it? So now let’s use this stranger’s unthinkable bravery to inspire you and me to do something that scares us!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!!
Beth