In the June 8 Northern Notes column, Eunice Groesser wrote about how overwhelmed she was by the number of concerned people who stopped to help her when she had car trouble.
In response, Dr. Christopher Niem Henley wrote to say that he thinks the article tells a simple story of gratitude and added that he believes people are inherently good and doing the best they can to get through life with the tools they have in their "life toolbox."
Henley wrote that Groesser's experience is proof that many people really are doing their best to help each other when the opportunity presents itself and to offer a unique reflection on gratitude and what could happen if everyone decided to "infect the entire world with an attitude of gratitude."
"Each and every one of us has so much to be grateful for and by sharing our gifts, this becomes a better world for all," Henley said.
After doing some research on the current world population, Henley learned that, as of June 7, there were 6,816,933,049 people on Earth. He then calculated what would happen if just one person decided to show their gratitude to just one person and then that person did the same. Then every day they decided to do it again and encouraged those people to do the same thing, doubling the numbers each day.
From one person on day one, the number would increase so that by day 34 there would be 8,589,934,592 people showing gratitude to others
"In 34 days ... we could bring about a worldwide show of gratitude and that spells W-o-r-l-d P-e-a-c-e," Henley wrote.
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The Traverse City community did its part to share gifts by coming together by the hundreds to raise more than $70,000 for March for Babies, formerly known as WalkAmerica, to benefit all babies -- those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive.
"I am proud that Traverse City residents joined together to support the health of all babies," said Jennifer Gaston, the 2008 March of Dimes board chair. "The efforts made and money raised ... will help the March of Dimes achieve its goal of ensuring that every baby has a healthy start in life that much sooner."
Locally, the event was sponsored by Munson Medical Center, AT&T, Sam's Club, Jen Tees, Frontier Computer Corp., Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos, Morse Moving and Storage, Banfield, PetSmart, Children's Therapy Corner, Northwestern Bank, Charter, Cherry Bend Pet Behavior and Training Center, TV 7&4 News and Midwestern Broadcasting Co.
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