Never thought to ask him his name….

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

It was only for a moment, but that moment has stayed with me and I hope it always will.

Was at grocery store in Hernando MS, was walking towards the Soda aisle to get my usual supply of Diet Pepsi when I heard…

“HEY!!!! HEY!!!!!”

I turned and saw a young man running toward me with a look on his face that was as genuine an expression that I have ever seen, eyes wide open in excitement, cheeks about to burst apart from that ever widening smile on his pudgy face. Arms and legs seemingly out of control as he ran toward me, a complete stranger to tell me his unbelievable news.

“Guess what?” he asked emphatically.

Looking around and noticing that I was the only one in the immediate area, and even though I had never met this person before, figured out pretty quick that his scope was focused on me, I said “I don’t know, what?” and grinned at him.

We meet a lot of people along this journey of life that are interesting, or have incredible stories to tell. Some we admire and some we just pretend to listen to, some we wish we were more like them and others we are glad that we aren’t.

Usually it is great acts of kindness, or stories of exotic trips, or exploits that make us laugh or cry that draw us to them wanting to hear and learn more about them, but those stories last for only a little while and fade off so that new stories can be told by other “fascinating” people that come into and out of our lives.

But this day in the soda aisle at Kroger, I met someone that I will never forget, and I am so glad that I did. It gives me reminders of what should be really important in life during that chance meeting. He touched my life and as I sit here remembering, have a sensation that everything is going to be OK because good does exist in the world, sometimes we just have to open ourselves up and let it in.

You see, this young man had just been awarded a medal for competing in the Special Olympics that day and he wanted to tell the world about it, one person at a time. He held up the medal that was hanging around his neck and in three words said more about his story than 1000 written words ever could.

“I WON THIS!!”

He then held up his hand so that I could high five him, and off he ran to find someone else that he could share this awesome news with. I just stood there and smiled, it felt so good, so genuine, so real.

Never thought to ask him his name, it all happened so fast. But I hope that this young child of God knows that he has left a lasting impression on a soul that will never forget him or his unbelievable smile and genuine excitement.

So I’ll take a pass on the crazy stories, unbelievable trips and exploits of the rich and famous and remember this young man that showed me what happiness truly means in three simple words.

I WON THIS

I wrote this 8 months ago, when I was coming out of the worst stage of my life and this brief encounter meant so much to me then, and it still does today. I get caught up in the situation sometimes and forget what is really important.

Family and true friends mean more to me today than they ever did. Before I was not capable of loving anyone the way that I should because I was so caught up in making a name for myself, caught up in climbing that ladder of success and knocking off whoever was in my way.

Running into this young man would have meant absolutely nothing to me had I still been in my dark place, I certainly would not have ever retold the story, but something happened that day at the grocery store that will stay with me forever.

You see, it is not about me any more. It is about this young man, it is about my family and friends, it is about YOU!

Being able to work from home and reconnect with people has changed everything, and I hear it in stories of so many others who are succeeding in their online home businesses.

Connect with us and we can help you get started on a new path as well, we are dedicated to helping people to change their lives, to experience what true freedom really means.

Blessings to all!

Mark and Michelle Eaves