Luis gave me my sight back. It was, as I said at the time, mind-blowing.
I lost my glasses in the sea on my first full day of my vacation in Barcelona. The fault was entirely my own: I was callous and underestimated the size and power of the surf, and I had lost my specs within the first minute of entering the water.
I am practically blind without my eyeglasses, unable to decipher anything but fuzzy blots of color around me. This was, obviously, not an auspicious way to start my first vacation in almost five years.
Later that afternoon, Luis, a local optician in Barcelona, was putting contact lenses into my eyes, giving me sight again. For free. (Many thanks go to my wonderful friends who found Luis for me while I fumbled about in the city.) Instead of taking advantage of a tourist that was in desperate need of help — I was willing to pay almost any price he would have quoted — Luis instead understood the situation and fixed the problem, out of the goodness of his heart, by giving me a a free pair of monthly contact lenses.
Luis is a true hero: a person who helps others not out of self-interest or the need for recognition, but because he truly cares for the well-being of the people around him.
That day in Barcelona, Luis didn’t just give me my sight back — he also reminded me why I’m an avid believer that all people, at their core, and kind and good.
That reminder was absolutely necessary and, as I said at the time, mind-blowing.
Good lord are you serious? That’s an amazing story. Way to go Luis!
Absolutely and completely serious. Luis was amazing.
A lot of people doubt me when I share stories here on this site, saying these kinds of things don’t really happen to everyday people. I argue that they do, we just don’t notice them, or we don’t tell stories of when they do. Even then, I still get disbelief and doubt.
This time, however, I have four friends that were with me to act a witness — and not only act as witnesses, but co-conspirators. They helped me find Luis, and for that, I am eternally grateful to them.
Was is mind blowing or mind blasting? Great story buddy!
Sameer, that’s a very touching story. I love people who just help without expecting anything back. That’s very rare in our days. Luis, may God bless your heart.
Thanks Karim. Great knowing there are people out there like Luis who are willing to fly in and save the day when I need saving.