How a complete stranger’s kind words altered a tired tourist’s day In this week’s Unsung Hero, a tired tourist is injected with hope and optimism with 4 words from a complete stranger: “I got you, lady.”
National
September 3, 20244:08 PM ET
How a complete stranger’s kind words altered a tired tourist’s day
In this week’s Unsung Hero, a tired tourist is injected with hope and optimism with 4 words from a complete stranger: “I got you, lady.”
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Time now for “My Unsung Hero,” our series from the group at Hidden Brain. “My Unsung Hero” informs the stories of individuals whose compassion left a long lasting impression on somebody else. And today’s story originates from Leahruth Jemilo. One Friday afternoon in 2021, Jemilo was on her method to a weekend vacation with pals. Her work week had actually been tiring. As she drove down the highway, she began to weep.
LEAHRUTH JEMILO: I was weeping while I was driving, which – note – is not an excellent concept, however I was doing it as securely as possible. And along the method, I encountered the Illinois Skyway tollbooth. And as I approached the tollbooth, using my sunglasses, I discovered the tollbooth employee since she had these truly stunning, really intense, purple, long braids in her hair and was using these extraordinary, actually long, purple plume earrings. And it’s simply something that you keep in mind of. And like lots of interactions that you have throughout the day, you typically state, hi. How are you? And the individual reacts, I’m great. How are you? And that’s generally it? Well, not for me on this specific day.
The tollbooth employee stated, hi, how are you? And I instantly rupture into tears, and I stated, I am really bad. I am truly bad. And I took my sunglasses off, and tears were streaming down my face. And she took a look at me, and her eyes were so kind. And she pointed her finger at me, and she stated, listen. I got you, lady. You’re going to remain in my prayers, and whatever is going to be okay. And my tears in fact dried up when she stated that. And I felt lighter because minute. And I stated, thank you a lot for your generosity. I actually value it.
I paid the toll, and I repelled. And after that I discovered myself weeping delighted tears due to the fact that to have a complete stranger who understood absolutely nothing about my life, didn’t understand the information or the scenarios of why it was that I was as psychological as I was – however she felt obliged and had compassion for me and wished to assist make me feel much better. And it was remarkable to me that she revealed that type of generosity to a complete stranger who simply took place to be driving through her part of the tollbooth.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
SHAPIRO: Leahruth Jemilo resides in Chicago,