Bumps Understood

I made a realization today about the annoying raised path near the edge of every Metro platform. It's important for me to note that I've complained aloud and grumbled to myself time and time again that this large bumpy strip hurts my feet when I speed walk across it in an attempt to breeze by those "tourist-pace" people between me and the exit. I never took the time to figure out why this pathway wasn't smooth like the rest of the platform, nor did it ever cross my mind that it served an important purpose.

Today after work, I witnessed a blind man navigating the Metro. While walking along the platform, he tapped and dragged his cane in rhythm to and from the smooth surface and the bumpy surface. Those annoying bumps to me were a matter of life and death to him. If they weren't there for his safety, he could very easily walk right off the platform and into the path of a moving train.

From this experience, I'm taking away two very important lessons:

1) My convenience isn't always the most important. Take a deep breath and slow your life down once in a while.

2) Cherish the gifts you have (such as sight), rather than dwelling on those you don't or those things that bring you down. Your joy in life relies on it.