Grammyism: "Somebody's gotta do it."
"And Im old Donald."
I do not know his last name, nor do I know the name of his parents. I do not know what he stands for, nor do I know his life story.
Donald does not know my last name, nor does he know the name of my parents. Donald does not know what I stand for, nor does me know my life story.
I have only met Donald once.
In the middle of the North Brookfield Senior Center, chatting with a group of other volunteers for the Senior Memoir Writing Workshop, I feel a shaky hand, firmly grip my shoulder.
I look over to my right side where a wrinkled profile of a man's face is now the new caption of the young girl who was just standing next to me. Old Donald had each of his arms around the shoulders of both myself, and the girl.
I did not know who he was. I couldn't help but think that I would never build up the nerve to approach two people randomly, but perhaps old age would build up my courage. What would I have to lose.
Old Donald taught me a lesson: You can't allow fear of embarrassment to keep you from doing or trying new things, even if it is as simple as confidently approaching people you have never met before.
As silly as it sounds, Donald inspired me with his small gesture and reminded me that half of the embarrassing experiences that most people in their teenage years view as life-changing, but in reality, those dreaded times will be minuscule memories by the time we are Old Donald's age.
Moral of the story: Don't sweat the small stuff!
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