Learning to be responsible
My heart feels heavier as I walked away from her. I wondered how many times she had to experience the same anxiety and apprehension as she walked from her place to the station to go to and fro from work. I wondered how long does she had to wait in the station for someone to help her cross the stretch of carpark filled with cars.
I saw her on the MRT station platform as I was walking out of the train. She seems lost in the crowds of people rushing towards the escalators. There was some distance between us.
I waited. It was apparent that she needed help. Her white walking stick was beside her and from her unsure footsteps, she seems overwhelmed by the sounds of waves of feet rushing by her, as if time had stopped for her. No one near her turned around to assess whether she needed any help. Perhaps it was because she looked young.
I walked towards her and offered my help.
In an apologetic tone, she asked whether I could help her get to the block across the station, which was a distance away from the station. There was a busy intersection of the carpark in between the station and the block that she was going to and she was apprehensive of going through the carpark, with the cars whizzing around during this period of time. I assured her that I will help her to the block that she was going.
I lost count of the times in the 5 minutes journey that she said she was sorry for making me walk with her although it was not in the direction that I was going. And I lost count of the times that I assured her that it was ok for me and I was grateful to be of help to her.
The journey through the carpark was difficult. Perhaps it was a busy period in the evening. There were drivers trying to rush into the carpark and secure a lot and there were those, who were rushing to get onto the road. I wondered how difficult it was for her to cross this very stretch of road every single day.
Soon we reached the void deck of the block. She told me that she was good to walk the rest of the journey herself. Sensing that she prefers to be walking the rest of the journey herself. I bid her farewell and left with a heavy heart.
On the journey home, I started to think of the times, I met people who doesn't look old and frail but had disabilities which weren't apparent to others on the surface; people who were waiting for someone to notice their plights. How often they stand at the intersections of human traffic, in the malls, the parks with everyone seemingly oblivious to their presence.
I was one of those who were lost in my own world. I know the impact of bystander effect, on the diffusion of responsibility and how easy it is for us, to mind our own business and carry on our usual routines.
But I also know that it is our responsibility to unite the responsibility of, and to restore the faith, in humanity.
I wish for the positive conditions for my visually impaired friend to meet with people who can help her when she needed help. I hope each and everyone of us can become the positive condition for our own happiness and others. I hope I have the moral courage to do what is right and not just doing it right.
May all be well and happy.
With loving-kindness
Simple Bear 26.01.2016.
My heart feels heavier as I walked away from her. I wondered how many times she had to experience the same anxiety and apprehension as she walked from her place to the station to go to and fro from work. I wondered how long does she had to wait in the station for someone to help her cross the stretch of carpark filled with cars.
I saw her on the MRT station platform as I was walking out of the train. She seems lost in the crowds of people rushing towards the escalators. There was some distance between us.
I waited. It was apparent that she needed help. Her white walking stick was beside her and from her unsure footsteps, she seems overwhelmed by the sounds of waves of feet rushing by her, as if time had stopped for her. No one near her turned around to assess whether she needed any help. Perhaps it was because she looked young.
I walked towards her and offered my help.
In an apologetic tone, she asked whether I could help her get to the block across the station, which was a distance away from the station. There was a busy intersection of the carpark in between the station and the block that she was going to and she was apprehensive of going through the carpark, with the cars whizzing around during this period of time. I assured her that I will help her to the block that she was going.
I lost count of the times in the 5 minutes journey that she said she was sorry for making me walk with her although it was not in the direction that I was going. And I lost count of the times that I assured her that it was ok for me and I was grateful to be of help to her.
The journey through the carpark was difficult. Perhaps it was a busy period in the evening. There were drivers trying to rush into the carpark and secure a lot and there were those, who were rushing to get onto the road. I wondered how difficult it was for her to cross this very stretch of road every single day.
Soon we reached the void deck of the block. She told me that she was good to walk the rest of the journey herself. Sensing that she prefers to be walking the rest of the journey herself. I bid her farewell and left with a heavy heart.
On the journey home, I started to think of the times, I met people who doesn't look old and frail but had disabilities which weren't apparent to others on the surface; people who were waiting for someone to notice their plights. How often they stand at the intersections of human traffic, in the malls, the parks with everyone seemingly oblivious to their presence.
I was one of those who were lost in my own world. I know the impact of bystander effect, on the diffusion of responsibility and how easy it is for us, to mind our own business and carry on our usual routines.
But I also know that it is our responsibility to unite the responsibility of, and to restore the faith, in humanity.
I wish for the positive conditions for my visually impaired friend to meet with people who can help her when she needed help. I hope each and everyone of us can become the positive condition for our own happiness and others. I hope I have the moral courage to do what is right and not just doing it right.
May all be well and happy.
With loving-kindness
Simple Bear 26.01.2016.
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