In my mid-twenties, I was walking in New York near the intersection of 34th Street and 7th Avenue. Once more I was witnessing an ambulance on 7th, with lights flashing and siren blasting, struggling with not only the traffic in front but also cars crisscrossing in front of it. Anger boiled up in me.
A very well-dressed man, possibly a lawyer, put down his briefcase on the edge of the intersection. Another set of emotions, this one of concern, came to me. All it would take is 5 seconds if not faster for a thief to snatch anything that is left free on the ground. So, I decided to stop walking and keep watch on that briefcase.
The man proceeded to go into the middle of the intersection. Stopping the traffic, he waved the ambulance to go through the intersection. The ambulance driver waved back in appreciation.
That was my “Of course!” moment as I watched him come back for his briefcase.
He may have considered the ambulance more important than his briefcase but might not have realized the impression made upon a young person like me. From that day, I started to ask, “What can I do?”
Over the years and decades of my life, that question changed more into a motto, “If I can, I will.”