When Did We Lose Our Humanity?

As part of my work routine, I stop for a coffee at the Tim Hortons across the street from my office. On the weekends, because I take an earlier train, it’s also an opportunity for me to get in some extra writing time. On a recent visit, a customer picked up their order and then sat down at a table on the other side of the restaurant. I was listening to an episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast as I pulled out my notebook when I saw the guy slide backwards. The gentleman seated at the next table reached out to grab the customer’s head. And what happened next had me asking, ‘When did we lose our humanity?’

Frozen in Time

The only thing stopping the man in distress from sliding to the floor was his table, as his neighbour continued to hold his head. Another man, also sitting at the adjacent table, grabbed the guy’s arm. There was a couple seated on the other side, and when they realized what was happening, quickly collected their coffees and left the restaurant—quietly telling the staff to call 9-1-1. I quickly scanned the restaurant to see how the other patrons standing in line to order, or enjoying their beverages and food at the other tables, didn’t blink an eye. No…one…moved.

I moved from my table and approached the scene, and the man who had passed out was just coming to but he still couldn’t move. I asked him his name. Tony. Then he confirmed that he felt like he was going to slide to the floor. Telling him exactly what we were going to do, I hooked one arm under his shoulder and the other under his knee, and with another patron we got him into the upright position. When I asked Tony how he was feeling, he said lightheaded. I inquired if this was the first time he’d eaten in the day, and it was. I assured him that help was on the way, and as one of the staff spoke with emergency services, I had them relay the additional information I had collected.

When Did We Lose Our Humanity?

Fire fighters arrived on scene first, followed shortly by the paramedics, who later approached me to find out what I’d seen. Tony was much more responsive by the time he was placed on the stretcher and wheeled out of the restaurant. Before he left, I took a moment to wish him well. He offered to buy me a coffee the next time we ran into each other, but I told him to just come back healthy and strong. Funny, too, that he asked me if I worked for Air Canada (and I had before the pandemic). Did I still have that flight attendant look?

And I hope that Tony is okay. But I was deeply upset by how so many people can just ignore another human being in distress. What if it were me some day in need of help in a public space? Would anyone come to my rescue?

Maya Angelou was right: “It takes courage to be kind.”

Let’s try to be a little kinder to each other.