When I decided to take over the Friday diary, it wasn't that I thought of myself as some awesome writer just looking for a platform. Well, actually, it was… However, I also wanted to focus on something that gets overlooked because of all the hate and anger that has surfaced. I wanted to highlight good stories about “the helpers” (h/t to my daughter for putting this in my head). What I hope to do each week, is highlight these helpers and give us a feel good diary to start the weekend. They may be political or not. What they will be is hopeful and uplifting.
So, who are the helpers? They may be the first responders (and generally they are often referred to as such) to many atrocities. They comfort the victims and help them to heal. They can be teachers and counselors who, unfortunately, have seen their share of horror forced upon their students. They can also transcend their own species and provide aid and comfort to others.
In the following story, two Syrian sisters living in Georgia, decided that they needed to reach out to help those displaced by Irma. The sisters (married to brothers) prepared food and took to those seeking shelter at a local mosque.
We were uprooted from war,” Abeer said. “We know the feeling of leaving everything behind.”
Piggy may have lost a leg, but she gained a bigger heart. This Australian shepherd knows when you're in need of company or just need permission to “Let it go”.
Piggy approached people having panic attacks, people who were sick or injured, and people recovering from traumatic experiences.
She became, in essence, the ultimate helper.
So, there you have two fine examples of “the helpers” and we will find more as we continue forward on our journey together. As you go through the week, look for helper stories. Bookmark to share with the Village next Friday. If you have a personal story of helping someone or being helped, please feel free to share in the comments. In lieu of political tweets, I'd like to see more “feel good” stories shared in our Friday morning “Helpers” diaries. My goal is to have everybody looking not just for the tragedy but for the joy as well. Also, to help transition to a weekend where we use the time to rejuvenate and prepare for the week ahead. We don't know how long we will need to resist, so we must take care of our mental and physical selves.
Remember: Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.