What inspires you? What about real life stories like this one. It's a life lesson for all of us. It's about realizing what really matters in life. It's about giving without any expected reward. It's about ordinary people do extraordinary things.
So here’s what happened:
A stranger, a man, scales the wall of an apartment building in France, four floors in less than a minute, to save a baby that was just moments away from falling to its death.
The man did not know the baby. Or the family.
He had just arrived to see what everyone else was witnessing: A baby dangling on a balcony, moments from death.
So the man acted because he knew he could, and remarkably he saved the babies life.
The mans name is Mamoudou Gassama. A 22 year old immigrant from the African nation of Mali.
Gassama was not a French citizen. He had arrived, as many others have, travelling across continents and oceans to make a better life for themselves.
Hoping these nations would take them in. Hoping for kindness.
In this case, Gassama's exceptional act of bravery fast tracked that hope for kindness.
French President Emmanuel Macron rewarded Gassama for his "exceptional act" with papers to legalize his stay in France, citizenship if he wants, and a job as a firefighter.
I’m sure Gassama is thankful for the recognition he’s received, for his French papers and for the job as a firefighter, but in fact the biggest reward Gassama received that day was something else.
There is something about moments like this in life. Inspiring stories that show us humanity is truly connected.
We have common bonds.
And when it really comes down to it, we know this…
That we were put on this earth to help each other.
It’s as simple as that.
Goran Yerkovich