I read Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the search for the American Dream this past week. I was drawn to the book because of Adam Shepard's statement on the back. He says:
"Mine is the story of rags-to-fancier-rags. I'm not an extraordinary person performing
extraordinary feats. I don't have some special talent that I can use to 'wow' prospective
employers. I'm average. My story is very basic, simple. My story is about the attitude of
success. My goal is to better my lot and to provide a stepping-stone over the next 365 days for
everything else I want to accomplish in my life. I aim to find out if the American Dream is still
alive, or if it has, in fact, been drowned out by the greed of the upper class coupled with apathy
of the lower class."
I enjoyed the book, even though it had some stories that carried on with no seeming point until the end of the chapter, but my favorite part is when he writes a letter to the morning bus driver. He reports that this bus driver was always positive, had a smile and something nice to say. Shepard writes the bus driver a letter that essentially says that even people who have seemingly insignificant jobs (bus driver, plumber, mover, drive through attendant) can be significant. The bus driver's attitude always put Shepard in a good mood. And he makes the realization that even insignificant, ordinary people can make a difference in the world. We don't all have to be the doctor, astronaut, race car driver, Donald Trump, to make a difference. He tells the bus driver, "there are people like you, who wake up with the purpose of making a difference in somebody's day."
Do we do that? Do we wake up and decide that we are going to make a difference? I don't know that I think that daily, but it is what I try to do every day, make a difference. Maybe we should wake up each day and decide, "what kind of difference will I make today?" And then we look for those opportunities. Smile at that stranger or co-worker (maybe the same person). Open the door for someone who has his or her hands full. I don't think it is the answer for the American Dream, but it certainly is a part of it. Shepard's point is that anyone CAN achieve the American Dream.
2 comments:
Very cool Mr. G! This is definitely one of the main points I was happy to discover throughout my experience. I've always appreciated "the little people," but I don't think I ever recognized--until I met that bus driver--the profound difference the little people can make.
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my book. :)
Wow! I never get comments from famous people. I will have to actually read a book and comment on it, maybe the author will find me as they troll about.
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