Take a moment

As always I was in a hurry and typical for this venue, the Metro Toronto Conference Centre, people were not moving very quickly. There was a lineup at the escalator.

I was almost there and flipping through my copy of the daily press release when we stopped again. Two or three people in front of me a women, wearing a bright purple suit, had stopped. People pushed past her irritated at another delay.

As I approached I could hear her giggling nervously. She would go to make the step onto the moving part of the escalator then reconsider.

I wondered if she had seen/used an escalator before.
"It's okay," I said. She shook her head.
I extended my hand and held it tight. With one big, shaky step we were on the move. We didn't talk much during the ride, but when she smiled at me I knew I had done the right thing!

She clutched my hand so tight - I was loosing feeling to my fingers.

Before long we were at the top, and at another three count we stepped off onto the carpeted floor.

She thanked me and contiuned on her way, still looking a little bewildered.

I was running REALLY late by then - but suddenly I didn't care anymore. Lesson learned, take time and look after the people around you. Such a simple act made me feel great for the rest of the day.