surprised , thinking they must have known him before .
I remember taking Nathan to a dentist ’ s appointment once , where he saw another big kid in a wheelchair . He got so excited , waving and voicing his unique brand of " hello ," which to those who know him sounds like " el-oo ." The other young man ' s accompanying adults waved back and engaged Nathan , exciting him even more . Afterward , the young man ' s mom asked me how they knew each other . She was visibly shocked when I explained that they didn ' t know each other and that Nathan was simply that friendly and warm .
While I consider myself warm towards people , Nathan ' s brand of warmth takes engaging with others to a new level . For example , when I ’ m out and about , if I go on public transport and sit beside someone , my upbringing dictates that I say good morning or afternoon . If I perceive the person as approachable , I will likely say hello . But if I see them as unapproachable , shyness and insecurity kick in , and I will not do so .
Take , for example , a recent morning walk in my community . I saw a younger man walking in the opposite direction , doing his morning walk . I had never seen him before , and thus , my mind started arguing with my heart about whether to bid him good morning . It didn ' t help that he was staring right past me with what I perceived as an unapproachable countenance . So , I chickened out and walked right by him . But this didn ' t sit well with my heart . I kicked myself for not showing courtesy and letting my perception color my actions .
That was when I thought , " What would Nathan do ?" In my mind ’ s eyes , I see his response : Grinning from ear to ear , waving his hand , bouncing in excitement in his wheelchair , looking squarely at the person , and voicing his " el-oo ." For Nathan , it doesn ' t matter how unapproachable the individual seems ( to me ); that doesn ' t stop him from showing love and bringing joy to the world . I thought about how much more pleasant the world would be if we took a page from Nathan ’ s book and took the time to greet each other . This simple connection could help us see that we have more in common than what divides us . It ’ s incredible how a small gesture like a smile or a greeting can bridge gaps , break down barriers , and remind us of our shared humanity . If we all embraced this mindset , we could foster community and belonging wherever we go .
Then , I got my second chance . I spotted the young man again , and as we walked by each other , I smiled , waved , and said , " Good morning ." To my delight , he smiled and returned the greeting . This simple exchange lifted my spirits and reaffirmed the power of human connection .
The ' feel good ' feeling stayed with me all day , and I went about my day with a smile . The ripple effect was that other people smiled back at me as I passed by them . I realized then that I was spreading positivity to those around me .
This caused me to reflect on how Nathan ' s ability to connect with people , regardless of their disposition , teaches us valuable lessons about humanity and the simple acts that can make a profound difference in our daily lives . We live in a world where people often see the outward appearance first , which can make us defensive if we perceive someone looking at us differently . I love that Nathan doesn ' t judge people based on appearance or demeanor or even how they may look at him . He looks beyond the surface and sees the person within . This is a powerful reminder to look past our preconceived notions and judgments , recognizing that everyone we meet is fighting their battles and carrying their burdens . We open ourselves to understanding , compassion , and genuine connection by seeing the person , not the perception .
Here are three lessons we can all learn from Nathan :
Embrace everyone with a smile .
Nathan ' s smile is his superpower . It ' s his way of saying , " I see you , and you matter ." A smile can break down barriers and create instant connections . It transcends
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