This post is dedicated to James and Casey.
A few weeks ago a friend of mine, Chris Dube, came to London on a business trip from the US. After spending a lovely sunny Saturday on the south bank we took a train west from Waterloo.
In Putney, two young lads boarded the train and started shouting, something like PUTNEY. I ignored them, as you do on British rail, pretending not to see, or hear, minding your own business, right?
My friend Chris however started laughing and imitating them (He’s not from here you see, and didn’t get the “mind your own business or else” attitude memo).
With amazement I watched how he connected with them and even with more amazement I watched as my perception of them from ‘two loud lads’ changed to two human beings.
They were impressed with Chris, his job in IT, his watch and glasses. They said he must be smart to work in IT. They thought his watch and glasses must be expensive (they weren’t, not really).
We learned that they were sixteen. James, with beautiful blue eyes, ran his own cleaning company. Casey, with a captivating shy smile, was a bricklayer. They didn’t think they were smart enough to work in IT.
I wanted so much to protect them, to make sure they knew they can be, do, and have anything they want in life.
All I could do is smile reassuringly and tell James it takes brains to run his own company; tell Casey how great it is to be a bricklayer during the summer as business must be booming.
I was looking into their eyes hoping they could see in mine the potential I see in them and the happiness and self-confidence I wish for them.
So next time you take the train from Waterloo and pass via Putney if you see ‘two loud lads’, will you ignore them or will you see their humanity, their potential and their greatness? Do you judge a book by the cover? Do you judge yourself this way? Or can you see the true-you shining through?
To all the James and Caseys out there travelling by train to their dream destinations, I applaud you all!! PUTNEY!!
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