One way NOT to start the day…
If you’ve been on my list for some time, there’s one thing I keep to a minimum.
What I’m referring to is the news; twenty-four hours, seven days a week of depressing headlines if you choose to listen to it.
The news stations have the ‘if it leads it bleeds’ down to a fine art.
And that’s why I use the BBC News App so that I’m in control of what I read. This App allows me to select which topics appear in my news feed.
But last week, something very unusual happened; a positive and uplifting story about a young man from Birmingham, Alabama made the headlines.
Walter Carr was about to start a new job with a house removal company, but the night before his first day at work, his car broke down.
Bearing in mind he had twenty miles to drive, for the vast majority of people, they’d have seen it as a sign of not meant to be and given up at the first hurdle and phoned up the next day to explain why they hadn’t arrived.
Not Walter.
Instead, he put on his jacket and walked his way to where he needed to be.
During his walk, a Police officer pulled over to ask why he was walking the streets in the early hours. So impressed by Walter’s story, the Policeman took him for breakfast before driving him to the house of Jenny Lamey, a customer for his first removal job.
The Policeman briefed Jenny of the situation and was so touched by the story, that she wrote about it on her Facebook page.
Walter also revealed to Jenny that as a young boy, his family had to move to Houston, Texas after their house in New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
When interviewed by reporters, Walter Carr said: “This was the first job in a long time to give me an opportunity to get hired. I wanted to show them I got the dedication. I said I’m going to get this job done one way or another“.
He then added: “I want people to know this – no matter what the challenge is, you can break through the challenge. Nothing is impossible unless you make it possible“.
What a superstar!
And there was more to come…
So moved were the public by Walter’s dedication, an online campaign raised more than $8000 to get his car fixed before it was closed. It then reopened and by last week had raised more than $50,000.
And it didn’t end there either.
In an act of great leadership after hearing Walter’s story, Luke Marklin, the Chief Executive of Bellhops (the removal company Walter had just joined) immediately drove from Tennessee to meet his new employee.
After chatting over a cup of coffee, Mr. Marklin handed Walter the keys to his own 2014 Ford Escape. You can see the moment in the link here.
An emotional Walter looked in astonishment, and, tearing up, asked: “Seriously?” before hugging Mr. Marklin once he confirmed his offer was genuine.
The Chief Executive told reporters “I am honestly blown away by him. Everything he did that day is exactly who we are – heart and grit“.
Ms. Lamey, the customer Walter had served that morning, was present as he received his gift. She told him: “You’ve changed all of our lives Walter. You have no idea how many lives you’ve changed and inspired. You’re a very special young man and you’re going to do great things.“.
To good a story not to share with you.
