Man in the Mirror

Bill is a middle-aged man, earning a substantial salary, working as a CEO of multinational corporation. He's unmarried, lives in a mansion with wonderfully designed swimming pool, sauna, imported Italian tiles, French chandeliers, $55,000 music sound system and custom designed interior decorations with canvas paintings he purchases off high street auctions hung creatively around his mansion. Bill's substantial salary is really substantial!

But the thing about Bill is this - he hardly has friends because he is always fearing for his life someone might be out there to cheat him. At work, he doesn't give instructions to his subordinates but he fires orders at them and expect things done yesterday. Among the very few friends he has, all of them know that getting him to buy them lunch, even if it is a cheap lunch is like searching for the holy grail. Most obvious about Bill was that, he never failed to find fault in anyone, in anything they did. From his sectretary being late to work five minutes, his subordinates not having proper reporting skills or the tea lady making his coffee too sweet.

A little bit about Bill - Bill came from a broken family, of which is dad left his mom and him to fend for themselves in this unforgiving world. Making matters worse, Bill was born with a foot defect, hence finding a part time job when he was younger was difficult. He couldn't ride a bicycle to deliver newspapers every morning like other kids because of this foot defect. When he tried to go around to do odd jobs to supplement his mom's daily wages from dish washing and factory work, he was often declined just because people assumed he was not capable due to his foot defect, or some cases people thought he was going from house to house in the neighbourhood to beg. Children his age, constantly picked on him and made fun of him.

At one point in time when Bill's mom lost her jobs due to bad economy, both of them wandered the streets at night to find a place to sleep because they simply could not afford the rent and rates. Bill's foot defect always slowed them down at reaching social service homes that offered per-night lodging for the homeless.

Eventually they persevered, Bill got through secondary school with flying colours, furthering his studies through a scholarship he received. He went through the early stages of his life telling himself, "I am going hit it big one day, and no one is going to laugh at me no more!". He gritted his teeth every night telling himself the same phrase just before he falls asleep.

The early hard life of Bill took it's toll on his mother, and she passed away few years after he completed his tertiary studies battling a string of health problems. His mother was really the only one he ever trusted and to honour her sacrifice for him, he continued to work hard climbing all the way up to where he is now. He never failed to give credit to his mother for his success.

But because of his horrible younger experience taking punches from society, he never really opened himself to anyone, and in his mind, "Now I am richer and more powerful than all of you who laughed at me last time." In simplest terms - he hated this society.

Until one day, when a young boy walks up his mansion rings the bell and asks, "Do you have an odd job for me? I can help water the plants, trim the hedges, do dishes. Anything you want me to do, sir!." Bill, would bluntly reply, "Go oway!" over the intercom to his front gates. This young boy never gave up and came everyday to ask Bill.

Eventually Bill gave up and said, "What the hell, come on in and help me water the plants and wax my cars. Do a bad job and you get nothing kid!"

As the child walked up to his front door, Bill saw a young boy in ragged clothes, he could see the child was hungry and obviously hadn't bathe for days. The young boy looked at Bill and said, "Thank you sir! Thank you for letting me do something and earn some pennies for lunch today. I won't disappoint you, sir!" Bill just turned away and said, "Just hit the intercom when you are done. I'll pay you if you do a good job."

As Bill turned around, he felt something in his heart. He felt something tugging at him in his heart. He felt something...... He felt like he saw himself in the young boy. Like he was looking in the mirror rewinding his life back to how he begin. 

About two hours later, the young boy rings the intercom, "Sir, I am done with watering the plants and waxing your cars sir." Bill pays the young boy as promised and Bill saw a happy young boy who would probably run along to get lunch. 

The day after, Bill decided to take a walk to his office instead of driving. After all, his office was not far from where he lived. He left the main gate of his mansion, in the chilling winter morning of December, he turned up the collar of his winter coat against the strong winds blowing at him and started his walk to work.

It was a 20 minute walk that lasted almost forever for Bill. He saw kids on the street with not enough to eat, homeless people with not a nickel to loan, no where to go; wandering the streets of the city. Throughout his walk Bill could not stop thinking about the young boy who ran off happy after earning a few dollars. 

When he reached his office, he went to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. As he looked into the mirror, Bill realised the man in the mirror made a difference for a young boy. More than that, Bill realised by starting with looking at the man in the mirror and making a change, someone out there may be a quantum happier.

Since then, every morning Bill looked in the mirror and slowly changed his attitude. He no longer gave orders but he gave instructions, and with a smile. He was a more approachable person and people felt a lot more comfortable around him. Most importantly, he never picked on the faults of other realising he had the same fault or probably worse ones. 

Every morning we wake up and look in the mirror when brushing our teeth or shaving. Look carefully at yourself, but not just on the outside. Look at yourself on the inside....... start your day by looking at the person in the mirror and ask yourself to change your ways. No message can be clearer if you want to make the world a better place.