One of the reasons that I am passionate about storytelling and the media is that it has the capacity to change hearts and minds. It’s cliche. It’s been said. But there are moments where I am reminded of it’s power. Tonight was one of those nights.
It’s 1:30 in the morning and I’ve just watched a documentary about a young man with diabetes. He’s frail, got acne, and has worn glasses since he was a young child. He’s incredibly depressed and repeatedly retells stories about being ostracized for ADD as a young child. In the course of the documentary, we see that he is not much happier as an adult.
He gets so excited about simply meeting “some of the guys” from work for dinner at a restaurant on a friday night. He gets dressed up. He gets there early. He chooses the best table at the restaurant. And then the kids from work cancel. Who knows why… but they don’t show up and this young, frail, diabetic young man eats dinner alone.
I can’t describe how hard it was for me to watch him eat alone. I thought back to mean tricks that were played on me when I was younger. I cringed at the thought of anyone I love ever eating alone because they felt like they had no friends. And then I cried when I saw his mother cry herself to sleep because her “heart broke for her son.”
He shares that one of the reasons he does not take care of himself is because he is so depressed and lonely he can’t think of a reason to feel motivated to be better. He wants to be closer with his father. He doesn’t realize how much stress his mother is under because of her fear for his future. It’s just the most heartbreaking of stories.
I began to feel really lucky. I began to just feel overwhelmed with appreciation for the people whom I have in my life that have been there for me. For my parents who know I am sick and BOTH stopped on their way home to get me cough medicine. For my friend who shared with me that she feels inspired when we get together. For my constant rock who makes sure to always have icecream and Cold Case episodes at her home so that whenever I show up, there is merriment to be had.
To those who have helped me when I’ve been at my lowest and given me a reason to keep going. I am just so thankful that you exist.
There are some people who don’t need others. I am not one of them. I am a person who needs people.
Ironically enough, I watched the Kennedy Center Honors earlier today. Good ole Babs (Barbra Streisand for those who have been living under a rock) was one of the honorees. I’ve worshiped her since I was a young girl. And one of my favorite songs is “People.” And there is an infamous line that strikes me in particular after watching this documentary tonight:
People. People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.
And it is so true.
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