Derek Neighbors

The more I learn, the less I know.

Personal Essence of Humanity is Helping Other People Feel Safe

By Derek Neighbors, Published on August 10, 2011

In Andre Agassi’s Open he shows the authentic and human side of himself. He talks about giving a friend named Frankie the money he needs to put his children through school. He reflects on it in the following way:

“Helping Frankie provides more satisfaction and makes me feel more connected and alive and myself than anything else that happens in 1996. I tell myself, remember this, hold on to this. This is the only perfection there is, the perfection of helping others. This is the only thing that we can do that has any lasting value or meaning. This is why we are here, to make each other feel safe.”

Some perspective, Agassi is one of only three people to win an individual golden slam (US Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic Gold Medal). Yet states that the only perfect and lasting thing he has done is helping other people feel safe.

Wow. Just fucking wow. Talk about wisdom. The essence of humanity is in connecting with other humans to help negate each other’s fears. If you look at love as the total absence of fear, maybe we should spend more timing loving each other?