Cheryl Hines says husband RFK Jr. has ‘special’ ability for bringing people together | Cuomo
One evening I was listening to him tell the story of how he was running late for a flight, and really needed to make that flight, and on his way through the airport, he tossed a wrapper from a stick of Dentene gum, towards a trash can. And it went straight into the can, but somehow bounced out and landed on the floor.
At first he'd been happy to see he'd made his shot, but then he was annoyed to see the wrapper had bounced back out. He kind of blamed it on God, that it bounced out, and felt like he should have made that shot, and it wasn't his fault that it bounced out. It wasn't his fault, so he shouldn't have to go back and retrieve it. Especially because he was in a rush.
But it really started to bother him, as he was walking, and something told him he needed to go back and pick up that wrapper and put it back in the trash, where it belonged. I thought, what a great story. This guy is so honest.
I think it's a real blessing that RFK went through a 12-step program and now believes in God, because it seems to have made him a spiritual person who does believe someone is "up there watching him" at all times. And that is the feeling that can make you want to to the kind of thing he did next.
The next morning, I was looking out my window, and saw some birds outside. They were looking at the birdfeeder on my window, which had been emptied by the squirrels. I didn't feel like going over to where I keep the bird seed, to dig it out and put it in the feeder, which can take a minute or two. I just wanted to get right to work.
But something about hearing RFK Jr. tell his story about the stick of gum, and another story about how it's important to do the little things like doing the dishes or not leaving towels on the floor, made me think, you know, I will feel better if I just take a minute to put some seed in the bird feeder. The birds are hungry, it's cold outside, and here I am, all cozy and warm with my heater inside. Just get up for a minute and put some seed in that feeder. So, I did. I'm grateful that RFK had reminded me that it's those little things we do, every day, to try to be a better person, that really counts.
I had another, similar experience, several months ago, after being inspired by another person who fights for human rights. I had seen filmmaker Mikki Willis talking in an interview on the Highwire, about how he just noticed his elderly neighbor next door, after moving to Austin, recently. He'd kind of seen him from afar, but never actually talked to him. Finally he said that he reached out to him and was like, "Hey, come on over, do you want some of our vegetables we just grew?" Willis spends so much time indoors, working on his films, it just kind of hit him how nice and important it is to establish those connections with your neighbors.
There are two women who live across the street from me, whom I don't particularly like very much. They are kind of snooty and gossipy and I haven't gotten along with either of them for a long time. One of them seems to have developed cancer or some kind of health condition that keeps her inside most of the day. When she does come out, she looks very thin and fragile.
Well, one day, I was backing out of my driveway, and I happened to see this frail neighbor, whom I'll call Karen, going to her mailbox, in her bathrobe. Something told me to just say hello to her. I haven't said hello - like, a nice hello - to her, in over 15 years. But after hearing Mikki Willis talking about what a nice thing it is, to acknowledge and get along with your neighbors, I just felt like it was something I needed to do.
So, I rolled down my car window and said to her, "Hi, Karen. I just wanted to say hello and tell you to have a nice day. That's all." I waved at her, and drove away. She looked like she was kind of in shock, like she was trying to figure out if it was some kind of prank, but it wasn't. I am still not chummy with her, by any means, but I'm glad I did that....even if she's still trying to figure out what the hell I meant by that. Baby steps are better than NO steps!
I went to the premiere of Plandemic 3 in Austin, Texas. I went alone, just for a day. When I saw Mikki Willis' wife walk past me, I told her that story and asked her to please pass it on to her husband, that his talk on the Highwire just got me to say hello to my neighbor, whom I haven't spoken to in over a decade.
One of my favorite quotes of all time is, by Kenny Ausubel.
― Kenny Ausubel
I used to have this quote at the bottom of all my emails, for years, not even knowing who Kenny Ausubel was - I just loved that quote and never got around to looking up the author. Well, one day I was doing some health research for one of my dearest friends who had cancer, and saw his name pop up on a documentary about the Hoxsey Cancer Clinic (which were were going to visit) in Mexico, and there was his name, right there, as the producer. Wow! It was so cool to know my favorite quote was by this person who cared so much about helping people with cancer.
Now, I can't help wondering if Kenny Ausubel knows RFK Jr... they both seem like the types who feel like they've been put here on this Earth, to try to make it a better place, and inspire others to do the same. They've both inspired me to be a better person, and I'm grateful for that : ).
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