I had an experience that has stuck with me for months now, and wanted to share.

I was parking at the veterans parking at the local supermarket, and this old leathery dude started approaching me. I am brown skinned and he looked like someone I was half expecting a confrontation from.

Anyway he asked me where I served, I replied, and without breaking his stride, he gives me a big hug and says “thank you for your service brother”.

I broke down in this man’s arms. Life has been HARD lately. I have been partially paralyzed, I am fighting cancer, my ac unit needed to be replaced, etc. Life was kicking me while I'm down and this man’s actions broke the dam I didn’t realize I was holding back.

He just held me until I was able to regain composure and embarrassingly apologize profusely, to which he replied “anytime man”.

So many of us are struggling and you never know the effect a kind gesture might have on someone.  I was inspired to check in on some friends I just “never had time to” before. Take care of each other out there.

Illustrative image used; no photo provided