this morning my little brother missed his school bus so, thanks to the wonder of modern technology, i was able to order an uber to take him to school in atlanta from my bed in brooklyn. after sharing the details of the pick up with my grandfather who was accompanying him to school, my 9 yr. old brother's only response was to ask me for the driver's name.
after taking some time to process, i realized the lesson.
we're not born with a disregard for the humanity in others. it's something we're taught.
i had, by sharing solely the make and model of the car/arrival time, neglected to recognize the person driving.
now that convenience is becoming an expectation rather than a luxury, our inclination to recognize the people behind that convenience has diminished.
so today, my baby brother reminded me. there are lessons all around us, opportunities to connect, and chances to make people feel recognized.
the driver's name was daniel.