Greetings!
It’s been a much talked about past few days.
First we saw the gripping sudden-death playoff battle at the Masters last
Sunday followed up less than 24 hours later with the tragic news of the Boston
Marathon bombing. Within our world we all witnessed so much human emotion but
the one common thread that shined through was
“Human Kindness” which came in all forms! That is my subject of the week!
“Human Kindness” which came in all forms! That is my subject of the week!
First, there was the Masters Tournament where
Adam Scott and Angel Cabrera elevated their national profiles to a world audience
of sports fans not only for facing up to the enormous pressure and answering
each other shot-by-shot during their rain-soaked playoff battle, but it was for their genuine
kindness to each other at the very end that became the main storyline! In some
ways, athletic performance took a back seat to human emotion?
Afterwards, the national news media
and people from all over the universe on Twitter and Facebook, hailed these two
golf pros for the way their exhibited such sportsmanship and class that
sometimes is as forgotten as living your life without a cell phone? On TV you could see moments where Cabrera would
give a ‘thumbs-up’ gesture to Scott and vice-versa after his opponent would
match him great shot for great shot. Or the way Scott would go up to the fans
and high five the onlookers to share in his jubilance!
Sometimes we all get caught up
in the wins and losses of our own events but this is one match that I looked at
both men as equal winners! More than likely as their careers continue to
evolve, each will be remembered more for KINDNESS than for tournament victories!
As we all went back to our
workplaces on Monday and shared some of our thoughts on the Masters, our
freedoms that we hold dear to our heart, seemed to be stripped away! Yes, we were
now witness to real human tragedy! Innocent people from all walks of life came
together to run for a cause at the prestigious Boston Marathon and were met by
two separate bomb explosions that tore apart the city landscape at the finish
line, killing several and severely wounding hundreds of others.
None of us know how we would
react in moments like what we viewed in Boston? I remember a time when I lived
in Washington, DC back in the 1980’s when an Air Florida jet crashed into the
Potomac River on a cold wintery day just after takeoff. So many surviving passengers
were left exposed to the cold water. A helicopter quickly arrived and sent a
cable down to help uplift people and there was this one gentleman who anchored
the line from down below and kept passing it to the women and children he would
see. He saved many lives but gave up his in the process.
Human Kindness comes in all
forms. I read reports of a marathon runner crossing the finish line and he continued
on to the close-by Massachusetts General Hospital to give blood for the victims
in need! Think of all the men and women –
your fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, that shed their fears at the
marathon to step up to the plate in the heat of the battle to care and rescue
their neighbors! You may have seen a picture of a former New England Patriots football
player (Joe Andruzzi) who was a spectator
at the race but amid all of the chaos, he quickly sprang into action and was
seen carrying a woman to safety and for much needed medical attention. We once knew
this athlete as a champion on the football field. From now on this man will be
known more for his one heroic act of kindness!
As Monday’s shocking day was
turning to evening, how ironic that on this day all of New England was
celebrating Patriot’s Day (a civic holiday commemorating the anniversaries of
the Battle of Lexington and Concord
back in the late 1700’s and also Paul
Revere, a Patriot in the American Revolutionary
War best known for his famous Midnight
Ride) that Ben Revere, an outfielder
for the Philadelphia Phillies would make one of the greatest catches in any era.
The storyline wasn’t just about the “catch” but in the fact that this ballplayer,
prior to taking the field, decided to honor the victims and those injured from
the race by putting a large amount of white tape all over the outside of his
baseball glove with this inscription PLAY FOR BOSTON!
Again, Human Kindness comes in
all sizes, shapes and forms! Gang, never take for granted the luxury and
freedom you have every day to wake up and live out your dreams! Take time to Smile!
Enjoy what you do for a living. Be friendly because KINDNESS does have a reward!
My best always!
Jim Loria
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“Emotion is like light. You can’t
let it go out every window. You have to keep it contained” – stated by Larry Sanders, Milwaukee Bucks NBA
Player
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“The greatest threat to success is
bitterness over who receives the credit in victory and the blame in defeat” –
stated by Howard Bryant – ESPN Sports
Reporters
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“Kind
words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” –
stated by Mother Teresa, known for
her lifelong dedication to the poor. Awarded the first Pope John XXIII Medal of Honor for Peace in 1971
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“Remember that you were born with a divine purpose and destiny that only
you can fulfill. Be your authentic self if you want to fulfill that dream that
sleeps within your soul” - stated by an Unknown Author
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