This I Believe- Listening

“Treat others the way you want to be treated” is a phrase that many of us have heard throughout our lives. I myself have heard it many times over, but there still have been those moments in my life that I haven’t lived up to it. I’ll admit I can be impatient and cranky at times, but it wasn’t until the winter of eighth grade that I realized how important it is to really listen and treat everyone with the same respect that you treat yourself.
It was an unbearably cold night in New York City as I stepped outside the van and prepared myself for my first midnight run. I had no idea what to expect. My mind was clouded by the stereotype of a drug attic, an alcoholic or an insane person that surrounds someone who is homeless. I kept reminding myself that I was there to feed the hungry no matter what the people were like. As the night progressed I met more and more fascinating individuals. Each person that I talked to had a story to tell. I learned that many of them were not alcoholics or drug attics as most assume, but they were just down on their luck. Since that night I have been on five midnight runs and each time I look forward to the people I’m going to meet and the stories I’m going to hear. I’ve had hundreds of interesting conversations over the years and each one is as important as the next. After my first midnight run I realized that there’s no way I can cure world hunger, but I can listen and to them that means the world.
I believe that no matter what status a person is you should treat them with respect and actually take the time out to listen to them. It may seem like a simple gesture to you, but to that person you are showing them that you care and making it clear that they are your equal. I believe there is no difference between someone who is wealthy and someone who is poor. We are all human beings therefore we should treat others with the same respect and dignity that we would treat ourselves.