[Content Note: Self-harm.]
"I didn't feel it was that big a deal; I did what anyone would do. I wasn't trying to fix his problems that day—I just listened."—Neil Laybourn, who stopped Jonny Benjamin from jumping off a bridge six years ago. The two men were reunited following Benjamin's campaign to locate Laybourn to thank him.
Would that it were true that just listening is a thing that anyone would do.
We talk a lot in this space about the importance of listening. Its importance can't be understated: Listening can literally save lives.
There is video of the men's reunion here. H/T to Shaker GoldFishy.
[Note: I, along with some of you I imagine, have some feelings about the public campaign to locate Laybourn, irrespective of the fact that he was pleased to have been found. I do want to acknowledge that, but it is not on topic for this thread. This thread is about how powerful the very basic human kindness of listening to one another is.]
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