The phrase 'Southern hospitality' is commonly used in America while describing the residents of the Southern region of the country. It refers to their generosity and big hearts towards visitors, foregoing their own worries to ensure their guests were happy. It may seem like an outdated stereotype to many, considering the harsh world we live in but thankfully, the heart willing to be kind to those in need still beats strongly even today within young individuals of the area.
When young Alex Ruiz, a server at the Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill in Douglasville, Georgia overheard a diner asking a fellow customer for help, he turned to see what the problem was only to realize that the diner seeking help had no arms. Without thinking twice, Alex walked up to the man, asked him if he could help him and sat across the table from him.
Oblivious to the gaze of fellow waiters and customers, Alex patiently sat with a smile on his face for half an hour and fed the diner, never getting up once during the meal and allowing the man to enjoy this rare comfort.
The viral photo of Alex feeding Ruiz was captured by a regular at the restaurant, Reginald Widener who shared it on social media, noting - "This seriously hit me right in the soul. Still good people in the world." Widener also noted that 'he had a smile on his face the entire time. He didn't complain about it; it looked like he really cared.'
When young Alex Ruiz, a server at the Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill in Douglasville, Georgia overheard a diner asking a fellow customer for help, he turned to see what the problem was only to realize that the diner seeking help had no arms. Without thinking twice, Alex walked up to the man, asked him if he could help him and sat across the table from him.
Oblivious to the gaze of fellow waiters and customers, Alex patiently sat with a smile on his face for half an hour and fed the diner, never getting up once during the meal and allowing the man to enjoy this rare comfort.
The viral photo of Alex feeding Ruiz was captured by a regular at the restaurant, Reginald Widener who shared it on social media, noting - "This seriously hit me right in the soul. Still good people in the world." Widener also noted that 'he had a smile on his face the entire time. He didn't complain about it; it looked like he really cared.'
Why I want you to remember Alex Ruiz -
At 22 years of age, Alex knew to make the extra effort for a man in need. He had the maturity to understand how hard and cruel life is for a man with no hands and not be rude or mock him - or worse, ignore him as we all would have done - but to actually spend half an hour feeding a patron at the diner without being ordered to do so by a staff member.
For his big hearted, selfless gesture and for adding to the legend of 'Southern hospitality', Alex Ruiz is a real life hero.
Alex Ruiz is a Shining Example of Humanity.
This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.
This completely warmed my heart. What a lovely story to begin the challenge! May we have more Alex-es in the world.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that last line...
DeleteAlex is a gem! Such people make life worth living. Looking forward to reading the rest of your posts on kindness during the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vinodini.. hoping to deliver on all 26 posts.
DeleteLovely theme :) We need such stories. Glad somebody has taken it up. Now, I too want you to complete the challenge, because such stories do inspire and inspiration is necessary to turn this world into a better place.
ReplyDeleteIts something I felt was unique and worthwhile... stories we've seen and smiled at but then forgotten with all else that happens in the world.
DeleteSuch gestures of kindness need to be talked of more, and as Anmol says, I'm glad you've taken this theme for A to Z. :-) Will be back for your B hero.
ReplyDeleteB is going to be a big bunch of heroes... and there is a pun in that description too :)
DeleteI just commented on another blog post how much I admire people who help others freely, instantly, without forethought. They simply do for others as if it comes naturally. This young man is one of those people.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. Alex definitely fits the bill.
DeleteSo rare we find such people but the fact that they do exist makes me happy. We definitely need more people like him. Such a beautiful story to start A to Z :)
ReplyDeleteArts of Different Form
That's the thing Swati... I feel we actively search, we will find many more of them. We just need to 'want' to find them
DeleteAlex is surely a hero. In a world when we are more concerned of the work we ought to be doing, we seldom think of fellow humans with an element of empathy.
ReplyDeleteTruer words have not been spoken, Ramya.
DeleteThanks for sharing such a tale of heart warming goodness. It does require special effort to be so selfless and uncaring of what ppl think and say. Kudos for sharing this Roshan. 😊👏🏻
ReplyDeleteThanks Shalz... stay around this month. 25 more stories to go.
DeleteHeart warming Story! You have lifted my moods up! All the best to your challenge!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could do so. And thanks... will need it.
DeleteIt is rare to find such people but it is really heartening to know that there is still some good left in the world. Thank you Doc for sharing this story :)
ReplyDeleteRare. yes. Which makes it all the more important to showcase them.
DeleteThat is truly a random act of pure kindness. Nice one to start off the AtoZ
ReplyDeleteAnd it is kindness and compassion that I seek this month :)
DeleteI think we all have an Alex within us, we're just afraid to let him out most of the time. The world tends to be just that little bit harsher and crueler for such Alexes.
ReplyDeleteYour sharing bar on the left side hides your content on desktops. Can you increase the margin a little bit?
Happy AtoZing!
Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com
Yes, the world sadly chooses to be more critical of good guys, insane as it sounds. And Thanks for pointing out the share bar thingy. Will look to fix it today evening once I get back home.
DeleteAdmirable and honestly, I am overwhelmed. Guess, I will have to keep a check on my emotional side all throughout April. Thanks to your posts. I so so so love your theme, Roshan. And this one is a great start to the challenge!
ReplyDeleteThailand Travel Stories at Kohl Eyed Me
26 Indian Dishes at Something's Cooking
Thanks Shalini... and I really envy you for being able to make 26 posts just on a holiday destination! At this point in my life, just visiting these places seems like a distant dream.
DeleteThis hit me in the soul too... we definitely need more stories like this Doc... great idea... :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ankita. That is the plan.
DeleteOur world will be an amazing place with such good souls & goodness.
ReplyDeleteThere are people who do good. They just get relegated to minor two line articles inside newspapers. This is an attempt to immortalize them.
Deletewhat a heart warming story of this young man. Real hero in life. Great to know about men who help.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Hopefully, more examples like this will be there in our media on a regular basis someday
DeleteYou picked an excellent example to start your challenge. This is a lot more than Southern hospitality. What a story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alana. :D
DeleteWhat a great way to start the challenge. I look forward to the other stories you are going to serve up....
ReplyDeleteThanks :) I do have some awesome heroes lined up.
DeleteThis is such a heart-warming story! And stories like these makes world a better place. This reminded me of an incident in a restaurant in Kuwait. A mentally challenged man and an old man (probably his father) were sitting adjacent to our table. The old man was feeding this young man with so much love and there was a smile on his face all through the meal time, even though the man was not eating 'normally'. Of course, the old man must be his father or related to him. But Alex is a real hero for doing this selflessly for a stranger. May his tribe increase and looking forward to all your Shining Example of Humanity stories, this April Roshan. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThe Kuwait story.. These are the kind of things that need to be shared more. It's necessary for the public to know that these things happen even today.
DeleteThank you for sharing. It is good to know that humanity still strives in this 'kalyug' where technology is mishandled most of the times. Instead of helping the ailing people shoot there condition on their smartphones so that the video goes 'viral'.
ReplyDeleteI will keep visiting to read more from you.
In recent times, I'm shocked by how people just shoot videos instead of trying to help someone. It's bad enough that Noone stops to help but when you stop, to take a video of someone dying? How sad is that?
DeleteSuch people make the world still worth living. A simple act of feeding a an arm-less man speaks a lot about the compassion in his heart. Heartwarming!
ReplyDeleteShubhangi @ The Little Princess
So true. Speaks of his character at such a young age.
DeleteThank you for sharing these stories and what a lovely theme! This warmed my heart! May this inspire the Alex in us. I hope after reading your posts we all share this kindness forward.
ReplyDeleteMuch love!
'May this inspire the Alex is us' I hope he hears that someday :)
DeleteSuch a heartwarming story Doc. We need to remember that we have a little goodness in us all, and we need to act upon it more often. These posts serve as our reminders.
ReplyDeleteIt comes down to that really - no matter who we are and what we have done, are we capable of a single decent when needed?
DeleteThis is such a heartwarming story, Doc. Compassion , empathy and a little goodness is all one needs in this world.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that. Yet such a rare quality today.
DeleteWhat a beautiful story to begin the challenge with Roshan! It filled me with so much of warmth!
ReplyDeleteCheers
BoisterousBee
Plenty more coming up.
DeleteSuch a warmth reading this. Beautiful Start. Looking forward to read to 26 stories. :)
ReplyDeleteI assure you. Plenty more to go.
DeleteThis made me smile and warmed my heart...so lovely to see that goodness still exists in this world. Thank you for sharing this Roshan! I look forward to more from you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanch :)
DeleteIt's truly inspiring !!! Wish we have more such people in society ..waiting to read more such inspiring stories
ReplyDeleteGot some fun ones lined up.
DeleteI read these heartwarming stories you share and get completely teary-eyed. Like I told you before, now more than ever, we need stories like these to restore our faith in humanity.
ReplyDeleteI know. That's why I take this challenge so seriously. Trust me. A lot of work has gone in already and some more still to come.
Deletewow he is one kind soul... this is such a heartwarming story. So glad you shared this.
ReplyDeleteYup. He truly is :)
DeleteA great theme and a great first story. It is great to know about Alex and his kindness. I wish we have more people like him who can help others in need.
ReplyDeleteThat's the idea - to find more people like this.
DeleteYesterday, I would have said no one would do that. Now I know. Wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteExactly...
DeleteWe need more such beautiful stories to make us cheer life and loving even more.Loved how you made me say a silent prayer after reading this.
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear that... many more coming up :)
DeleteThanks so much for sharign this story. I think we need to read more of theme, because we are accustomed to think all people is aweful. That's nto ture. I move on public transports and I see little gestures of kindness all the time. It is heartwarming :-)
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir
We need to share those small stories and gestures, I feel... they make others feel better about the world.
DeleteBeautiful theme and a touching story! We definitely need such shining examples of humanity to be written about as it brings hope to an otherwise grey and self centered world
ReplyDeleteYup... more examples like this are needed. :)
DeleteWhat a lovely man - good to know there are still people like him in the world!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
True. :))
DeleteWhile you are already aware that your theme is right on top of my fav list this april , interestingly - I had not come across this story so the freshness of it made the joy of discovery heightened. Hanging around to read your take on B.
ReplyDeleteOh, there are plenty more where this comes from :D
DeleteWill keep on surprising you :)
A great start Roshan sir, the world needs more Alexes!
ReplyDeleteGood luck for the entire challenge and look forward to reading about inspiring individuals and groups.
Regards,
Mahesh
Thanks Mahesh :)
DeleteWhat a wonderful post! Hats off to Alex for his gesture and act & a big thank you to you - for choosing such a wonderful theme!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck with AtoZ. & i will be back to read these heart warming and reassuring in humanity stories.
"*Ishieta @ Isheeria's*
AtoZofHealing - A is for Affirmations"
Alex was a perfect story to start with
DeleteWow! Every li'l effort is a grace to humanity! Such a wonderful story :)
ReplyDeleteThat's such an awesome thought...
DeleteOnce again feeling overwhelmed by this story...
ReplyDeleteIn this world when some of us wouldn't mind buying food for the needy,we definitely step back when it comes to investing time for others. He is indeed an example. And not just that, the story is well written as well.
ReplyDeleteIn this world when some of us wouldn't mind buying food for the needy,we definitely step back when it comes to investing time for others. He is indeed an example. And not just that, the story is well written as well.
ReplyDelete