From the President, 0618 WYBJ, Vol. 41 No. 3. 10
| Position | Vol. 41 3 Pg. 10 |
The Human Spirit
In an issue of the Wyoming Lawyer largely dedicated to the various forms of loss attorneys face in their careers, I cannot help but think about just how overwhelming loss can be for most people. Even when I see or hear about a tragedy that does not directly impact me, it still affects me, sometimes profoundly. I'm sure it does the same to many of you as well. The school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, hit me particularly hard. I also remember how paralyzed my wife felt for days after 9/11.
Mass tragedies have happened for centuries, although historically perhaps they occurred on a smaller scale and with less frequency. What is new, of course, is how quickly the stories of human tragedy can be transmitted across the world, oftentimes in excruciating and vivid detail. Nonetheless, what has always endured, and what I find myself turning to when I hear or read about human tragedy, are the stories of human triumph that surround us. If you take the time to look you can find inspirational stories of determination, selflessness, and courage everywhere. My favorite ones involve kid heroes. Most of us have heard the most famous names in that regard, people like Malala Yousafzai, Anne Frank [an]d Louis Braille. Today, though, I want to share with you a few lesser known stories about everyday kids who make a positive impact on the people around them. Hopefully they will brighten your day and help you remember just how much good happens in the world on an everyday basis.
Austin Perine
Austin is a 4-year-old who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. One day while watching a television show about a mother panda abandoning her cub, Austin's conversation with his father T.J. turned to home-lessness. After learning that there were homeless people all over the world, including in Birmingham, Austin decided to do something to help. He asked his parents to stop paying him allowance and buying him toys, and if he could instead use the money that they saved to buy chicken sandwiches for homeless people in his hometown. They agreed. Now Austin walks the streets of Birmingham once a week handing out free chicken sandwiches to the homeless. He does so while wearing a red cape and a blue shirt emblazoned with the words "Show Love," and repeating the motto "Don't Forget to Show Love" to...
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