HOW  WE TREAT PEOPLE
Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat  people.

1  - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During  my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a  conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the  last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the  school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman  several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know  her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before  class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our  quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet  many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even  if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I  also learned her name was Dorothy.

2.  - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One  night, at 11:30  p.m.,  an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway  trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she  desperately needed
a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next  car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those  conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and  put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his  address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's  door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A  special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the  highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my  spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying  husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and  unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King  Cole.

3  - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who  serve.

In  the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a  hotel coffee shop and sat at a table.  A waitress put a glass of water in front  of him. "How much is an ice-cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied  the waitress. The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the  coins in it.  "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.  By  now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing  impatient."Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again  counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress  brought the ice-cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy  finished the ice-cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back,  she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the  empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the  sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a  tip.

4  - Fourth Important Lesson. The Obstacle In Our Path.

In  ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and  watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's  wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many  loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything  about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a  load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his  burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much  pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his  load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had  been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating  that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The peasant learned what many of us never   understand!

Every obstacle  presents an opportunity to improve our  condition.

5  - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When It Counts.

Many  years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little  girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only  chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old  brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the  antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to  her little brother, and
asked the little boy if he would be willing to give  his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a  deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion  progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing  the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile  faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I  start to die right away."

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the  doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in  order to save her.

Forward it to people you care about.

"Work like you don't need the  money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's  watching."