everyone has a story

[via]

I'm writing this post with a heavy heart. I recently read an email. It was the worst kind of email. The kind that starts off with those awful words "it is with deep sadness and regret..". Anything that comes after that is sure to be bad. The email went on to say that a former coworker of mine had passed away. 

Coworker doesn't seem like the right word to describe him. Yes, we were employed by the same company. And yes, we worked together. But he was more than that. He was the kind of man that cared about everyone he met. The kind of person that asked how you were doing and actually wanted to hear your answer. The kind of man that immediately took on a fatherly role to anyone that was younger than him. A selfless man who I grew very fond of. 

Apparently, he was living with a terminal illness for several years prior to his death. An illness that he never spoke of to any of us. Not even the people he had worked with for most of his life.. the people he saw everyday. 

How is that possible? How can you see someone everyday for years and not know such a huge aspect of their life? Isn't that crazy to think about?
Would I have treated him differently if I knew?

Today, I am reminded that everyone has their own story. Good or bad, it's theirs.

I encourage you to learn someone's story today or at least acknowledge that it's there.