by Dr. Leo S. Buscaglia
The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 23, 1985,
Early this month, I was asked to help judge a national contest sponsored by the makers of Care Bears and Woman's Day magazine. The purpose of the competition was to recognize caring children. Through a Care-A-Lot-Kids Campaign, thousands of children between the ages of 4 and 12 were nominated by their parents, teachers and even themselves to participate in the contest.
The selection was not made on the basis of inspiring compositions or speeches, but on a caring act performed by the child. I often hear people say the world would be a better place if only "they" were kinder, more considerate, more giving, more willing to love. I wonder who "they" are. I believe that "we" are "they," and if we want to bring more kindness, gentleness and warmth to the world, then it's up to each of us. It's not true that nobody cares, that it's a dog-eat-dog world. The world is full of people who care, and it's about time we honor them.
The contest's results were encouraging. They brought to light thousands of acts of selflessness, revealing that goodness is alive and well and being expressed by our youngsters all over the country. Some of the children were honored for acts of heroism, others for such deeds as collecting reading material for hospitals and orphanages, or arranging such community activities as story hours or recreational sports. One 7-year-old girl said she believed that only through her giving would her sister, dying of a bone disease, be saved. She told of her struggle to overcome her fear of pain, hospitals and surgery before she offered to share her bone marrow with her sister, thereby saving her life.
Another child rescued a 72-year-old woman who had tumbled into a ditch on her way home from the grocery. She was lying there bruised and bleeding, with a broken ankle, for more than an hour before the child found her and asked her mother to take the woman to the hospital. The child refused to leave the hospital until nine hours later when she was certain that the woman was out of danger. The girl has maintained this caring relationship by assuring her elderly friend that she is always available to help when she's needed.
A 10-year-old boy was being driven home from school by his older brother when they collided head-on with another car. The older brother was unconscious and trapped inside the vehicle. The younger boy crawled out of the car and ran for help, ignoring the fact that he had two broken bones in his feet. He saved his brother's life.
Another child, hearing that a neighbor needed a heart transplant that he could not afford, started a campaign to raise the needed funds. He posted homemade signs asking for money around the community, and approached neighbors, friends and relatives for money. In six weeks, he had collected, with his parent's help, the $60,000 necessary for the operation. His neighbor now has a new heart.
A 10-year-old girl, whose sister is in an irreversible coma, sets aside time each day to talk with her, play music for her, wash her face and comb her hair. In this way she feels that she is helping her sister, as well as her overworked mother.
Perhaps the most touching story was reported by a mother about her 4-year-old son. An elderly neighbor had recently lost his wife and was despondent. He was often seen alone, in tears. One day the little boy, seeing the man weeping, walked into his yard and sat on his lap. His mother, believing that her son might be bothering the man, called him home. "What did you say to Mr. ... ?" she asked. "I didn't say anything," the 4-year-old replied. "I just helped him cry."
I'm delighted that there are people and organizations calling attention to the good that people do. Heaven knows we are bombarded with many tales describing negative behavior. I hope that occasions such as these will one day draw as much media attention as the latest drug bust or hijacking.
Originally at this link, but he also copy-pasted that "Kids On What Love Means" chain letter. Some mutations give due credit to Leo Buscaglia for the last item, others don't mention him or the article the item is taken from.
So here is Brent Zupp's story about meeting Leo Buscaglia without the irksome meme included.
by Brent Zupp
I guess you could say I met Leo once. It was after a lecture he gave. My girlfriend-now-wife bought us tickets to attend. Leo was in awesome form, telling tales of his Love class at USC, and other wonderful encounters this one-of-a-kind Italian-American man encouraged. After the lecture, we waited in line to "meet" the man. Buscaglia promised he would stay as long as it took to meet everyone, and he was true to his promise. He was there for at least another couple hours. Meeting a speaker usually consists of a handshake and brief pleasantries. With Leo, it consisted of a long, wonderful hug and a feeling of deep connection. That man could connect with total strangers in milliseconds. During the embrace, I conveyed how much his books and words had meant to me, and how, in a way, he'd always been there when I was down. He pulled back from the embrace just enough to look me in the eyes and say, "And I'll always be there, Brent." We were among the last in line for the evening. It was a moment I'll never forget.
The world is filled with people who care, and Dr. Leo S. Buscaglia was one of them.
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