Special People

Recognition.

As situations get worse all around the world countless individuals go out of their way to help those in need.  And as the number of those in need grows day by day, the number of helpers also increases.  Look around to find those who are doing their best to help others and give them a little bit of recognition.  They, do not look for praise or glory, but a pat on the back gives them so much encouragement to keep them going.

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Kindness Prevails

At this terrible time, so many around us are carrying out acts of kindness in the midst of the pandemic.  Here, in Beith it is unbelievable how so many individuals and local businesses are doing all they can to help the vulnerable in our midst.  Shopping for those who cannot get out, making masks, get well soon cards and delivering small goody bags to the elderly and those who are in poor health.  Every year we have a Citizen of the year award – how can we single one person out this year?  Impossible.

I mentioned Beith, but the same acts of kindness are taking place in villages, towns and cities all around the world. 

We must not let the media convince us that negativity reigns supreme on our planet.  The proof is all around us and plain to see that positivity and love is in abundance.

We must not forget these angels in our midst once the threat of the virus. eases. 

This month I nominate all who work for our National Health Service.  Visiting hospitals a few times recently at extremely busy times I marvelled at how the staff coped always with a smile on their face with the mammoth tasks that they have to cope with every day.

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Never Giving Up.

Born deaf in both ears, and with vision of less than five percent in her left eye and none in her right. This did not stop a young lady becoming a doctor. 

Armed with a Bluetooth stethoscope connected to her hearing aids. She relies on touch to feel for veins, adding: “You can pick up a lot about patients just by listening to them. Patient safety is paramount so if I’m doubting something, or I’m unsure, I always ask someone.”.  “I have less eyesight than most, but more insight than many. That insight and empathy is the most important thing you can give patients.”

She says being a patient herself, 20 operations and stay in hospital for 18 months has taught her the value of empathy. “I’ve been able to go up to patients who’ve been terrified, and I just draw the curtains and say, ‘I know how you feel’.

Angels in our Midst

A group of people seldom mentioned, but are a godsend to young and vulnerable members of our society – Foster Parents.

Foster parents provide a safe environment for a child or young person when they are unable to remain in the birth families home. Fostering is taking a child into your home temporarily until they can return to their own family or move on to live with a relative or adoptive parent.

It takes a special person to be a foster parent.  Fortunately, there are many of these unsung heroes around who take on a momentous task, yet never seeking to be in the limelight.

Foster Parents – Angels without wings.

I Am Only A Cleanner

I heard a lady say the other day “I am only a cleaner I don’t usually tell people my line of work”.  It is terrible that a human being should feel like that in this day and age.

Those who keep our hospitals, school and offices clean often do not get the respect that other workers receive.  Yet, if we stop to think for a moment, they are probably the most important group of people in the community.  Just imaging the cleaners disappeared into thin air.  The NHS would have to close its doors or run the risk of patients not coming back out because they have caught one deadly infection or another. 

I remember sitting in a waiting room of a hospital and the staff were in a panic.  It turned out that a senior member of management was paying a visit.  One hospital sister was in a frenzy ordering an elderly cleaner to dust and sweep here there and everywhere.  After the dignitary was introduced to all and sundry he turned away, and I heard him say “Hi Mary, I thought you would have retired by now”.  He turned to the others and said “With out Mary and others like her we would be out of a job”.  Then, before continuing on his rounds, he said to Mary, “If we both have time later; we can have a coffee and a chat”.

The more we appreciating the value of each other the more smoothly our society and communities will run. 

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We are in the middle of the entertainment awards season.  Awards for almost every part of cinema, stage, arts and the music industry.  In my book sickening spectacles and it shows so clearly that today’s society worships money, glamour and status rather than taking pride in all who strive to do the best they can under difficult situations.

Recently an avalanche of complaints on social media because refuse collections are late or even in some areas have been cancelled.  But when these services run smoothly is there any praise for the refuse workers who toil in all weathers for a low wage?

I have known individuals who have spent many years standing on street corners or knocking on doors in all weathers collecting for worthy charities.  Often getting abuse.   Yet where are they when awards are being handed out?  Not that they are looking for awards.  The awards go to some well-paid person at the top of the charity tree.

There will be those who will say as a Spiritualist that I should not judge – but by not speaking up, we will drop further into the mire of worshiping some and ignoring others.  No wonder suicide is on the rise these days as the society we have created makes so many feel worthless.

I am going to dedicate this page to the unsung heroes who give up so much to help others who are less fortunate than themselves.  I will often not mention them by name as they prefer to work quietly and unnoticed rather than being in the glare of a spotlight.