What were some humbling experiences of yours?

[Cali]

Have anything make you pause and put things in perspective?


Three instances come to mind for me.

Flying a fallen soldier in Afghanistan back to base to be taken care of. Could have been any of us or someone I knew. Close to home type of thing knowing soldiers who died there.

Visiting Pearl Harbor and watching the video before going to the Arizona memorial. Those sailors went through some real shit, nothing at all like my time in the 'Stan (even with rockets and mortars being fired on the base, and small arms fire when flying).

The gratitude from a homeless guy when I bought him some Mickey Ds. Saw a guy with a hungry sign, there was a MDs on the corner, so went through the drive through and bought him lunch. Pulled up and asked if he wanted it and he jumped up super quick to come get it. And his thanks, he really did appreciate having some food.

 

[Pushrod]

My wife, older, smarter, better educated, wiser, more attractive and a better human than me in many, many ways landed in the hospital with myologenous leukemia.

It was touch and go for a few days. One doctor misdiagnosed her malady and almost killed her. A great oncologist, just walking through the ward, came in and changed the whole protocol of treatment and, she slowly recovered.

I sliently watched her sleep calling on Gods I didn't trust the existance of as she lay white and wan. As white as the sheets upon which she lay.

She eventually opened her eyes and saw me. Smiled just a little, so I got up and got closer. From near death she said: "I am so, so sorry to be putting you through this."

I felt two inches tall. She was the one who had redeemed me, saved me from falling into bad habits, bad lifestyles, bad friends, opened doors into worlds I didn't know existed, neutralized my anger at the world and made me worthy. I was struck humble. I understood how small and venal I was/am, and in that understanding is humility.

Almost ten years have passes since that day, she is doing well with experimental treatments and a strict dietary regime, (wow! I can cook), she'll be stable if she's careful. But I'll never recover, my ego got deflated and, like a guy who gets gut punched by reality, will remain humble. Always.

Apologies if it's too wordy, but that's what brought me to humble.

 

[afm199]

Working in a homeless shelter years ago. Seeing the variety of people who ended up in one.

Volunteering to distribute food to various charities that provide food to the homeless, again, you see so many people in need, and some wonderful volunteers.

Getting under two minutes at Thunderhill. Took me years, and when I finally was capable,it was such an anti climax. Instead of feeling some special pride, I was amazed that I had begun to understand all the things that were still making me slow.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Every day at my job.
I am a drug/alcohol counselor at a residential treatment facility. Each person on my caseload has fallen through multiple floors and has had several "rock bottom" experiences. I have had a bumpy road of my own but nothing on the scale of what I am witness to on a daily basis. Not much provides a good dose of perspective more than reaching down and helping other people back up.

Being evacuated from our house in Santa Rosa due to the Glass fire. It has been a week and we are still living in a hotel, dog and all. We hope to be able to return any day now but the wondering has been torture. We recently learned that our home sustained some damage but is still standing. Some of our neighbors weren't as lucky. Again, perspective. We got lucky. That was too close.

 

[Kurosaki]

Pretty much every day in the gym/dojo is a humbling experience.

 

[SM610]

Whenever I'm in Mexico Im amazed at how little some of those people have and yet are so happy/willing to help/unselfish. As we waited in line to get across the Tecate border into Cal, i handed the roughest guy i saw all the pesos i had from the window of our van. It was probably $25, and the rest of our eggs and a few other things that cant cross. The guy started crying (and i nearly did too) saying in Espanol something about his kid or kids. Such a little thing to make such a huge difference. We are truely "blessed". Dont forget it...

 

[littlebeast]

My wife, older, smarter, better educated, wiser, more attractive and a better human than me in many, many ways landed in the hospital with myologenous leukemia.

It was touch and go for a few days. One doctor misdiagnosed her malady and almost killed her. A great oncologist, just walking through the ward, came in and changed the whole protocol of treatment and, she slowly recovered.

I sliently watched her sleep calling on Gods I didn't trust the existance of as she lay white and wan. As white as the sheets upon which she lay.

She eventually opened her eyes and saw me. Smiled just a little, so I got up and got closer. From near death she said: "I am so, so sorry to be putting you through this."

I felt two inches tall. She was the one who had redeemed me, saved me from falling into bad habits, bad lifestyles, bad friends, opened doors into worlds I didn't know existed, neutralized my anger at the world and made me worthy. I was struck humble. I understood how small and venal I was/am, and in that understanding is humility.

Almost ten years have passes since that day, she is doing well with experimental treatments and a strict dietary regime, (wow! I can cook), she'll be stable if she's careful. But I'll never recover, my ego got deflated and, like a guy who gets gut punched by reality, will remain humble. Always.

Apologies if it's too wordy, but that's what brought me to humble.

i have nothing close to this (your story brought me to tears) - but that said, have been and continue to be humbled by so many events and experiences. my most prominent personal ones are all health / medical related - with one exception.

first - i was in hospital emergency - knife wound to my hand (deep cut exposing bone) and i was screaming in pain. one of the emergency techs was trying to calm me, and asked me to quiet down. he pointed to another patient in the ER and said ‘you see that guy over there - he has two broken legs, a collapsed lung and a ruptured spleen’ and wasn’t making a sound. he went on to suggest i ‘get a grip’. i listened, and did.

second (years later) was hospitalized due to peritonitis. according to my doc, i came within inches of dying. during treatment (incredibly painful intravenous therapy), i was way beyond harsh to the nurse who administered it. upon my recovery and release - that same nurse came and sat with me to help me gather my things, and i apologized. she forgave me, and at that moment she explained to me why she worked in her chosen profession (to heal us and put us back out there).

third, and the exception - it was a dream i had. i was in a movie theater sitting alone. as happens occasionally, the door at the back of the theater opened (piercing light - and we are all like - asshole, shut the fucking door). and someone walked in. i turned to look and saw an angel - homeless looking dude with filthy wings / bent and missing feathers - walking down the aisle. similar to everyone, i’m thinking ‘keep moving’. but he doesn’t. he makes his way to the seat next to me, sits down, leans in close to me and says ‘you’re not as smart as you think you are’.

took that to heart ever since. from my dirt covered guardian angel.

 

[Eldritch]

I spent a number of years working directly in housing the homeless in the Tenderloin. I'm in a management role all over the West Coast now where I don't really see tenants at all, but I spent years on the front and have seen the war of inequality in America at its absolute worst. The TL is largely unprecedented in this country.

Every day was a lesson that made me grateful, but I guess when I had to go find the dead bodies in the units once the smell got to their neighbors, and once the ME had carted the body off and I eventually got permission from the family to clean out the property in the unit, you really get to see how small someones life is, I reckon that was significant.

 

[Maddevill]

Whenever I'm in Mexico Im amazed at how little some of those people have and yet are so happy/willing to help/unselfish. As we waited in line to get across the Tecate border into Cal, i handed the roughest guy i saw all the pesos i had from the window of our van. It was probably $25, and the rest of our eggs and a few other things that cant cross. The guy started crying (and i nearly did too) saying in Espanol something about his kid or kids. Such a little thing to make such a huge difference. We are truely "blessed". Dont forget it...

I have been to some poorer parts of Mexico. The people are some of the most decent, giving people I have ever met. Those who rail against immigrants that come from the south should take a minute to talk to these men and women.

Mad

 

[dravnx]

I have been to some poorer parts of Mexico. The people are some of the most decent, giving people I have ever met. Those who rail against immigrants that come from the south should take a minute to talk to these men and women.

Mad

I stopped at a border town famous for their terracotta pottery. I picked out 4 big planters and started negotiating. I worked the dude hard and got the 4 pots really cheap. It took me a while to get the pots wrapped in blankets and stowed in the camper. While I was working on this, the guy, his wife and three kids jumped in their beater and drove off. We got everything packed away and then made a couple of sandwiches and ate our lunch. Just as we we're about to leave, the family arrived back and started to unload their car. They used my money to buy groceries. I gave him the asking price and then some and I've never done that again.

Packing our shit up to evacuate and determining what is important and what isn't. We went through it during the Tubbs fires and just did it again. This time we packed way less stuff.

 

[afm199]

I spent a number of years working directly in housing the homeless in the Tenderloin. I'm in a management role all over the West Coast now where I don't really see tenants at all, but I spent years on the front and have seen the war of inequality in America at its absolute worst. The TL is largely unprecedented in this country.

Every day was a lesson that made me grateful, but I guess when I had to go find the dead bodies in the units once the smell got to their neighbors, and once the ME had carted the body off and I eventually got permission from the family to clean out the property in the unit, you really get to see how small someones life is, I reckon that was significant.

Are you familiar with Hospitality House? I did some electrical work there a few decades ago, and was super impressed by how they treated homeless folks.

 

[Eldritch]

Are you familiar with Hospitality House? I did some electrical work there a few decades ago, and was super impressed by how they treated homeless folks.

Yes, absolutely. When I was San Francisco based they were a good partner and many of our formerly homeless tenants were still engaged with them though our on site Social Workers.

Totally did not have enough resources to serve the need, like most agencies downtown, but well intended folks trying hard to help out people.

 

[SVsick50]

Seeing the plight of widows when their husbands didn’t care to plan.

 

[afm199]

Yes, absolutely. When I was San Francisco based they were a good partner and many of our formerly homeless tenants were still engaged with them though our on site Social Workers.

Totally did not have enough resources to serve the need, like most agencies downtown, but well intended folks trying hard to help out people.

Yup! I send them $100 a year to keep them going.

 

[lefty]

WOW!!! So many beautiful stories.

SM610 and MadDevil- I agree 100%. My Mother and Father in Law were dirt poor, but were some of the most generous and kindest people I have ever met.

 

[Eldritch]

Yup! I send them $100 a year to keep them going.

That's very kind of you, those kinds of direct service agencies are always struggling for funds.

 

[budman]

Watching my Mom pass at 4:12AM after being with the entire family since 7PM. The screams of pain in the room was unerving. I sat there being numb. Then driving my Dad home after he lost his partner of 55 years and struggling to find words to share.

I was humbled by life itself and where it goes.


I have been humbled on the race track, sports fields and in the classroom. Regular stuff where you realize there are people much more talented than yourself.

 

[Eldritch]

Watching my Mom pass at 4:12AM after being with the entire family since 7PM. The screams of pain in the room was unerving. I sat there being numb. Then driving my Dad home after he lost his partner of 55 years and struggling to find words to share.

I was humbled by life itself and where it goes.


I have been humbled on the race track, sports fields and in the classroom. Regular stuff where you realize their are people much more talented than yourself.

I remember when I first started riding and this really hot chick that worked next door to my office was totally checking me out when I was gearing up to go, so I performed a truly spectacular low side of proportions considered epic to this very day. Humbling for sure. :laughing