Importance...(revised: Responsibility)

Disclaimer: Let me start by saying that this post is graphic, frank, rambles, ties two seemingly unrelated thoughts together, and has nothing to do with design, advertising, or business at all. it was typed on my Treo so there are likely typo's. Still with me? Read on humans...

The last few days/weeks I have been feeling a little overwhelmed by life. To start, I've been on the road for the better part of the last 8 weeks. Our business is exploding, our clients are growing, my baby is growing...all good things. Many times I hear the answer..."oh you know, just busy" uttered in response to the obligatory question "how'z things goin?". When I hear this, I often wonder to myself...do you have any idea what busy means? Inside ourselves, we make our lives and our problems more significant than the person next to us. This has become human nature. I am currently at a point where I am feeling pressure from all sides and it is making me claustrophobic. The problem...I bring all of it on myself.

Weekend
As I laid awake this weekend for the 2nd night in a row...7am rolled around and on queue, my baby Cole woke up in his usual happy mood...he is so excited that another day is here to learn and experience everything for the first time. It's hard not to set your mind aside and get lost in his. The simplicity of his existence and his needs. Just a little attention, love, food, and some clean drawers. That's all he needs to put an ear to ear grin on. It's beautiful. What, or where along the way, do our perspectives change?

Flight to Atlanta
I had another epiphany today on my flight to Atlanta. A young guy, maybe 20's is on my flight and he is sick...not sure what from or why, but he is ill...really ill. The attendant moved him from the back of the plane up to my row in Poor-man's first class (the exit row) because the middle seat opposite mine was open. Immediately I am watching the reactions of the people around this poor kid. They get uncomfortable...adjust their seats...request a seat change...yet, nobody's first reaction is compassion of any kind. I imagine how uncomfortable it must be to be plunked down between 2 strangers with a barf bag in your hand and no sign of relief, comfort, etc. in sight. It's really a sad moment. He is alone, clutching a bag of ice to his chest, and his hands are trembling. He's very well mannered, shy, polite, very simple appearing. Ask me on any given Monday what my reaction to someone throwing up next to me on a flight would be and I would probably say, disgusting, but today I don't feel this at all. Maybe I feel like, what if it was my little boy sick, or maybe I realize that this guy would certainly not choose to feel the way he does if given the option. I really feel for him.  All I know is that I am thankful it isnt me.

The Moral (so to speak) - and some business relevance...
After posting this, I came across this ad that not only caught my attention because it's great, but also illustrated exactly what I was feeling in at least part of my rambling scenario here. This is an excellent spot for Liberty Mutual - deveoped by Hill | Holiday:

This situation, like waking up to my son smiling and laughing in his crib snap things into focus for me. I don't know what it is that makes us lose sight of our childlike instincts, to be more carefree, but at the same time care for someone, or show them the respect/consideration to ask how they are. I don't know what drives us to the point of stress, illness, oblivion...for the sake of success. Of course by we/us, I mean me. So today I am going to make some life changes. Something every human has the right to do.

 WBV