Today I was reflecting on someone inspirational that I had met on a return flight from Cyprus. I was on my way back to Boston from Cyprus and had just left Heathrow airport when I sat down I noticed this really kind, tall, blonde guy next to me. He asked if I needed help figuring out how to work the screen display on the seat in front of me since I was clearly struggling. So I thanked him and finally got the thing to work. I started making small talk as I usually do on flights and asked him where he was coming from. He said he was flying to Boston from Ukraine to get some training. Instantly my heart sunk… I knew what had been going on with the war in Ukraine. I suddenly felt such a sense of empathy like I just wanted to protect him, give him a hug, and make sure he was okay. As I quickly bounced back from the initial shock I started asking him questions and just being a good listener, giving him a safe space to share whatever he wanted.
He went on to tell me details about the war since he was a military general on the front lines against the Russian opposition. I had no idea about some of the things he had told me… He said that Russians were intentionally bombing their neighborhoods in an effort to knock down the electrical grid so that the power would go out for everyone in the neighborhood. There would be days or even weeks where the entire neighborhood would have no power. He explained that he was just an ordinary citizen before the war, but like so many other citizens he decided to learn how to use weapons and create an army to defend his country. As he was telling me all these things and showing me photos I was just in shock… It’s one thing to see things on the news but it’s another to have someone right in front of you that was going through that very thing.
It gave me a glimpse into the strength that the human spirit can have. Throughout this entire conversation at times he would laugh, and at times he would look much more somber. I just listened empathetically and continued to give him a safe space to be heard. He showed me photos of him and his comrades holding cats and dogs and explained how they provided therapy and emotional support for them. He went on to explain that one advantage the Ukrainians had is that they could understand the Russian soldiers’ language but the Russians could not understand the Ukrainian language. This allowed their conversations to be confidential even when the Russians would be listening to them.
Throughout this entire conversation I just kept thinking… Why is it that in one part of the world there could be relative peace and prosperity but in another there could be so much suffering and devastation? Why can’t we have some kind of international law that could be enforced to prevent these wars from happening? But then I knew it’s not that easy unfortunately. We still live in a time when organizations like the United Nations are merely a place for nations to have discourse but ultimately independent nations can do what they want when it comes to war. My parents had also fled a Communist regime that brought sudden violence and oppression upon their people. In their case, they fled and sought safe refuge/asylum in the United States. I just kept thinking… I wish that we could save everyone that is suffering and give them a safe place of refuge. I also kept thinking that evil despots like Putin need to be held accountable and stopped so that they do not become a cancer, spreading suffering and oppression to the rest of the world.
I didn’t have all the answers but I just kept processing everything. I noticed he had a big smile on his face and he thanked me for listening to him and accompanying him while we had our in-flight meals. I was not only inspired by his bravery but I was also inspired by how much listening and giving someone a safe place to feel heard and cared for can make them feel better.
The plane started landing and I asked him if he was on Whatsapp. We went on to exchange numbers and I told him to let me know if he ever needs anything while he’s in Boston to not hesitate to reach out. While I can’t control what is going on in the other side of the world, I can at least try to help in some way and be there for someone in their time of need. I learned that there is so much unnecessary suffering and conflict in the world, but the way to counter and heal that is through small acts of love and kindness towards those in need. That is how we heal the world.
Eros
Eros V 