If you don’t yet know this “secret to a long and happy life,” you might want to get started.
I want to wager that he does more than you do.
Of course, I don’t know you, so let’s just wager that he does more than I do.
OK, I lose. He wins.
Meet Heinrich.
I met Heinrich as he was biking from the food bank to the distribution center where they hand out extra food that’s about to spoil. He’s on three-wheeler that has a luggage-cart-type thing on the back filled with vegetables and other tasty groceries.
He doesn’t have too much time to talk with us because he has to deliver the food and then he’s hosting a reading at the library. I lose a little bit in the translation and I’m not sure if this already happened or he has to get to it tonight.
You could sum it up by saying that he helps people in need. Maybe we could refine it by saying that he helps people who are in more need than he is. But from where I’m standing, most people on the planet “need” more help than he does.
- He bikes around (not-that-flat) Darmstadt, Germany.
- He delivers food and even picks it up from one place and brings it to another (you’d think they have cars for that). He delivers it by bicycle.
- He volunteers at the library and leads discussions on books. He gets lively discussion going. It’s not just a “Oh wasn’t that a nice book.” kind of meeting.
I suppose I could go on and on. But I don’t know more. I only met Heinrich for a few minutes.
One thing did stand out about him that I can’t let go of.
He’s 89.
Not he’s a member of fire department unit 89. Not he lives on 89 Hauptstrasse. Not 89 buttons on his jacket. 89-years old.
I know 49-year old who complain more.
I know 39-year olds who won’t get on a bike.
I know 29-year olds who are less active.
He’s old. He’s alive. He’s living. He’s giving.
He’s living. He’s giving.
Ooh, I like that.
I’m adding Heinrich to my list of superheroes.
Who are your superheroes?
