"I haven't seen my family in 2 years and 6 months."
Last week, as I wrapped up my final meeting in Dubai, a casual taxi ride back to the hotel turned into one of the most memorable and reflective moments of my trip.
The driver greeted me with a warm smile that immediately drew me into conversation.
It turns out even in Dubai I can't hide my lack of Football knowledge, as the chat kicks off with 'what team do you support?". He's an Arsenal fan and went on to let me know how the Champions League is shaping up.
He shared a dream of his, to walk around the Emirates Stadium, 'one day', he said with a twinkle in his eye.
He's been in Dubai for 2 years and 6 months, working from 4 pm to 4 am, 7 days a week.
Once he's covered his living costs through his commissions and tips, no salary, he sends everything else home. His real home, not where he rests his head in Dubai, but where his family is back in Ethiopia.
As he talked about his family I could feel both the pride and pain in his words.
He flashed his phone towards me as I sat in the back of his cab to show me a beautiful photo of his family, his wife and two young daughters.
This short taxi ride has made a mark on me. Here are two takeaways I want to share:
🥇 You've already won.
If you're healthy. Have people in your life you love uncoditionally. Have a roof over your head and never go hungry. You've won. It's as simple as that. The rest is incremental so do your very best (and I know it's hard) to keep life in perspective.
Here's how I try to do this. Every day over my morning coffee I write down three things i'm grateful for, from the morning squeeze I get off my boys to the fact a friend dropped me a WhatsApp to say 'Checking in, how are you pal?'.
❤️ 'In a world where you can be anything, be kind'.
It's easy to see someone smiling and assume they're ok, but we've all had those days where we've put on brave face and feel really tested.
The truth is we don't know what people are going through, the sacrifices they're making or battles they're silently fighting. So do your best to approach every interaction with kindness and empathy; you don't know the impact it may just have.
I hope something here has resonated with you. If it has, hit share. Someone in your network just might need to read this today.
✅ Swipe over to your messages and check-in on someone you care about. I promise you this is one of the simplest, most rewarding habits you can ever build.
Stay well. Speak soon.
p.s if you're someone that's fighting a battle silently, the biggest gift you can give someone is the opportunity to be there for you when you're struggling. The first step of reaching out may sound daunting, but give someone that gift today and I promise you'll both feel the benefit. You're not alone. Don't forget it.
#Gratitude #Kindness #Empathy