Mighty Life List
Feb 28 2012

“He Was Scared and Lonely Like Me”

The Power of Music from Life File Videos on Vimeo.

(via Sarah Brown)

This is a life’s work, becoming a person who sees him or herself in the other. The older I get, the easier it is to see commonalities most of the time, instead of in fleeting moments.

I’ve never had a literal enemy, but it’s easy to label people as “other” even in everyday life. Have you ever had one of those humbling moments where you realize that someone you judged, or even dismissed, was more like you than not?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 at 2:26 pm . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

26 Responses to ““He Was Scared and Lonely Like Me””

  • Kristin Noelle Says:

    So, so beautiful. And yes, this really is a life’s work.

  • victoria Says:

    ah, shoot. now i’m all weepy. :) thanks, though, that was great.

  • Megan Says:

    Those are my favorite moments.

  • Allie Says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this, Maggie. My day just improved immeasurably. What a lovely story.

  • Kristina Says:

    Thank you so much for this!

  • Sativa Says:

    I might add — the power of sharing a true story. He expresses so much about his life experience in just a couple of minutes. lovely.

  • Liz @ Bella Vita Says:

    Wonderful, wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it. It is true, we are far more alike than we will ever be different.

  • Laurie Says:

    I have — my friend Cindy, who ended up dying violently at the hands of her boyfriend a couple of years later. I wrote a post about it that I rerun every year (except this past one, when I pathetically forgot) on the anniversary of her death. That whole experience changed my life, for sure. I should call it to mind more often. Thanks, Maggie.

  • Meg Says:

    Just shared this on FB. So lovely. Thank you!

  • Leatitia @ The Sweetest Year Says:

    I realized I’m like my mother a bit more everyday. I used to judge her decisions and life choices when I was a teenager/young adult.

  • sugarleg Says:

    been in a fog of the funk, and when this happens I contract in a way that can make nearly everyone “the other.” even if this is only in my head, the rotten, immature things I say in my brain make me feel physically crummy, a scowl creeps onto my face and a force field of dark surrounds me. it’s ugly. when I can make myself hear that trumpet, and drop my shoulders, and breathe deeply, everyone instead starts to become my ally.

    I need that trumpet… I am listening. I am having one of those humbling moments right now. thanks for sharing.

  • Angeerah Says:

    Thank you, Maggie, for letting me start the day with this beautiful video.

  • Melissa Says:

    Made my day, tears included. Thanks and keep going strong.

  • Maureen Says:

    That was lovely. What was the song he played there? It sounded familiar, yet not familiar. Anyone know?

  • Lauren Says:

    I cried the first time I saw this video, and I cried today. Just so special; lovely.

  • Anna Says:

    Every time I ride the subway I’m reminded how we are more a like than different. Just like me, everyone is trying to get to work or trying to get home to people they love. I try to respect this, which helps me be patient.

    Thank you for sharing!

  • Jen Says:

    I spent most of 2011 traveling around developing countries, and my single biggest “lesson” learned was just this, that we’re more alike than different. It’s what I tell everyone that asks – especially those (mostly members of my family) who would never consider traveling to the places I did and first want to know if I was scared.

    We all want the same things, folks. We want to spend time with loved ones and make a life we can be proud of. What a great reminder for us all to remember this often, so we can help to make this world a better place to live, work and play.

  • Beth Says:

    Wow!

  • schmutzie Says:

    You just did me in with that piece. So right and so beautiful.

  • Eliza Says:

    This is lovely. Seeing oneself in the other is indeed a life’s work. It is one’s daily work, and it pays in dividends in the richness of living. Here’s another take on our being alike: http://myupside.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/31-for-21-just-like-you/

  • sara Says:

    thank you for sharing that, maggie.

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  • Rachel Says:

    So touching.

  • Diana Says:

    That brought tears to my eyes. My German grandfather was one of those prisoners. He spoke so highly of the men who ran the POW camp in the US where he was held, and also very highly of the man he worked for in England as a POW. The way he spoke about that experience, it really showed me that in the end, we are all just humans trying to stay alive and be happy; that is really what it comes down to.

    I miss him so much. Thank you for reminding me of his words.

  • Kat Says:

    Complete sap over here. I have a soft spot for sweet old men. What an angel to even think to play his trumpet for a man he didn’t know. I love him.

  • snozma Says:

    I don’t want anyone to lose these values. I am afraid we are losing them.