The Little Things We Learn in Life

One of my team members at work fell down a flight of very steep and awful stairs today.  I was sitting in my office and heard a nightmarish sound right across the hall of a missed step and complete thrashing down an entire flight of 1908, wood stairs.  I will have nightmares of that sound of a body helplessly crashing vertically toward the basement.

I flew out of my office, knocking things uncaringly off my desk.

I flew down the stairs to the heap of one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked with.

Her boss and friend kneeling at her head, consoling her for not having been able to stop the fall into the basement.  I did a quick assessment and asked my team mate at the top of the stairs to call 911.  In her fetal position, crying and apoogizing in the same breath for having fallen, she helped direct us as to who to notify of the “accident.”  We comforted her and asked her not to move at all since she metioned her back was hurt.  We joked that thankfully she fell in my building because I had multiple ice packs from my recent shoulder surgery which I fetched for her hand and back.

She cried and laughed until the fireman came, put her neck in a collar and strapped her to a board to lift her out of the belly of one of the oldest buildings of our campus.  Finally, some fear and reality hit her.  Her responsibilities left her, and she saw the gravity of what could be.  Her friend went by her side in the ambulance and a team of support continued to mobilize around doing everything we could do. Thankfully, this caring, upbeat and incredibly helpful and thoughtful person is ok. Amazingly, nothing broken, just significant bruises.

The experience reminded me of simple things.

Of the 3 digits of 911

Of how we pay taxes for the amazing services that arrive in minutes and make far more educated decisions than we ever could.

Of how fortunate we are to be standing up, and not falling.

Of the power of TEAM

Of how when we work together without stake, or ego, amazing things happen in the service of others.

Of the difference that one step in life can make.

Of how easy it is to call 911 and let the experts come and demonstrate their expertise and amazingness in the need of another.

I am grateful tonight.

I am grateful that my team member is not seriously injured.  I am grateful that she was fortunate to have an accident in the company of others.  I am grateful that we all worked together in service of her.  I am grateful that in the larger scope of life, it doesn’t matter the degrees we have, the titles we have, nor the economic status we have.

What matters is that we care about each other and we do all we can in a moment of need in service of another.

All my best goes out to the amazing one who tumbled down the stairs, and in a very hard way, reminded us of the simple lessons of life.