I walk around a local lake each morning. I enjoy the nature of the woods, the smell of the fresh grass and at times I listen to a books-on-tape. It is a peaceful way to start the day and normally not very crowded early in the day.

This morning as I walked it was quite crowded with adults and their dogs and an entire cross country team. About halfway around the 2-mile walk I came across a woman who had slipped in the mud with her dog and landed in a shallow creek, damaging her leg and hitting her head on the wooden bridge.

I ran to help her and realized that all of the people that had just passed me, had to have passed her as well.

"Has no one been willing to stop?" I asked.
"No, they just keep going," she answered.

Luckily I had my cell phone with me and quickly called 911 for help and as I ran to meet the ambulance to show them where she was I was astounded by the Human behavior I'd witnessed.

Are we so wrapped up in our own thoughts and the sounds coming from our MP3 players that we fail to miss another human being in distress? Is it that difficult to step out of our own self existence to reach a helping hand out to someone else? Have we become such a litigious society that the mere idea of acknowledging someone in need is beyond our ability?

I was appalled and embarrassed for my fellow walker's behavior.

I suppose this isn't a business topic, however, do we act the same in our business dealings? Will we look the other way when we see someone in need or in trouble rather than get involved?

The thought is too sad to contemplate.