Once upon a time. I mean a really long time ago. an 8 year old kid and a guy on the street changed our focus dramatically.
It all started when I was in Chiropractic College. This was about 20 years ago. I was walking home from class and I would run into people all the time.
Let’s talk about this neighborhood I lived in. This is Davenport Iowa. A once booming town when the shipping industry was big right off the Mississippi river. Back in the 1800’s this neighborhood was a booming river town. There were lots of old victorian mansions lining the
But that was then, now the mansions are run down. A thriving shipping industry was replaced by more efficient ways to get your stuff to other parts of the country and this booming town is getting run down.
The area where our college was in was a pretty poor area in town. and I met lots of people on my walks but 2 people that I met really helped shape my thinking.
One man saw me walking to school and he looked at me. This man was African American, just like me and he looks at me as I’m walking to that school and says “hey, do you go to that school?” I said yep. Proudly because this is the best chiropractic college in the world. But then he said something that brought me back to earth. He said wow, I didn’t think “we” meaning Black people, could even go to that school
Now I’m not sure if he was being serious or not. But when he said that. It got me thinking. People from all over the world come to this school because it’s the best in the world, but people in our own neighborhoods don’t realize that this is something that can be achieved. It’s not right, it’s not fair and from that moment it became a mission of mine to change that. I think the president of the college got sick of me coming to him telling him of this problem that that I needed to “break some rules” in order to get the message out to our community. You see, Students weren’t allowed to go out and do public presentations. I’m not sure why but I think that they didn’t want to worry about what the students would say to try to “get new patients for the clinic or something” but we had a problem bigger than that, we had an issue where a community that needed help, didn’t realize that it’s possible to achieve something that would pull you up out of that situation right across the street.
I learned a really important lesson that day. That you can make a difference all over the world and that’s super noble, but don’t forget about helping your neighbor right next to you. They’re easier to reach, and you have more opportunities to reach them.
That’s why we have been committed to serving our community right here in Marana (northwest tucson) we’ve created some programs and partnered with some large organizations like our church to make a difference in the lives of people in our city.
This may not have happened if I never met that man.
I don’t know your name, 20 years later, I’ve forgotten what you look like. But that day we met changed so much for me. Thank you.
As you go through your day and your life, what are you doing to make a difference in your corner of the world? Now, this isn’t a guilt trip to make you feel bad if you’re not doing anything. I get it, you’re likely super busy, with life, kids, parents, your health. That it’s so hard to think more about how you’re going to help others, but sometimes, all you have to do is open your eyes to the needs around you and you’ll realize that you really can make a difference without making your life too hard. And it will improve your health. Here’s a list of 7 health benefits of doing good things for others. https://www.goodnet.org/articles/7-scientific-facts-about-benefit-doing-good
That’s the challenge I have for you today.
You may still be wondering
Have a look at this article: 6 Steps to Improve Mental Health Without Medication
