Musings on Life by Roselle Kovitz

On a recent walk, I stopped into a neighborhood store where Andri, the clerk, struck up a conversation with me. An immigrant from Albania, he reminded me—yet again—that the distance between any of us, regardless of where we come from, where life takes us, or how we define ourselves, is small.

Earlier that day, he’d been tempted to buy some lottery tickets. As a clerk, he’s witnessed customers win modest amounts and decided it was worth a try. One hundred twenty dollars later, with not a dollar in return, he realized gambling was tempting, but not a good idea.

Then, something unexpected happened.

When “Samir”, a regular customer came in, Andri, shared his tale of woe. Samir listened, then handed Andri his own lottery ticket, a $100 winner, asking only for the $10 price of the ticket in return. This act of kindness made Andri almost giddy—me, too. He then began telling me about himself and his life in the US.

He arrived here from Italy ten months ago. In that short time, he learned to speak English and studied US laws. “I need to know law in order to do business here,” he explained. He works in this small store for his cousin, the owner, and dreams of making a good living.

Italy was just too costly a place to live, he said. Because the Carabinieri (police) are paid so little, he went on, bribes are commonplace. Here, police are paid a living wage and, he believes, laws are applied equally. Like so many who come to the US, Andri is optimistic. Despite the sour economy, he believes opportunity is possible here.

Andri’s enthusiasm and his customer Samir’s generosity remind me that while we don’t always look in the right places, wanting to be happy, safe, healthy, and cared for are part of our common nature. That practicing compassion and generosity can be healing and contagious. That listening to each other allows us an opportunity to connect at a basic human level.

Andri reminds me that when we pull back the curtain of our egos and personalities, we’re less likely to divide the world into us and them. When we reveal our vulnerabilities, our true nature, it’s just us.

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