What do you want to give someone today? 

As the holiday season arrives, I often find myself considering this question from a material perspective. My aim in sharing this today is to invite you to consider giving something that has the potential to leave permanent value.

As a home health PT, I’ve been in and out of around 15,000 homes in the past decade. I have heard countless stories from my patients that have held a place in their heart and minds for years. These memories usually involve someone who took an extra step to provide what they needed, when they needed it the most.

We have an OT who came to a patient’s home one day for a visit. The patient was feeling terrible; his blood sugar was low and he needed to eat. Our OT went into the kitchen, prepared him scrambled eggs and brought them to him. The patient said afterwards that those were the best eggs he had eaten! He simply could not believe that the OT had taken the time to do this for him. This OT’s action reverberated around our office and beyond, and the power of its impact struck me. He had gone “off-script” to serve our patient well. The impact was profound–not only for the patient, but for all of us who heard the story afterwards. It gave me a greater realization of the potential impact I have each time I step across a threshold and into someone’s life.  

Serving others well can sometimes take us “off-script”, and it may come at a personal cost. It may cost us our “on-time” schedule, our emotional space, our energy, or our clean pair of scrubs (ever had to get on the floor and search for something someone dropped under their bed? 🙂

Regardless of the cost, consider giving someone something of lasting value today. We each have opportunities to do this, no matter where we are sitting or standing. Going off-script will require discernment–you may end up in unchartered territory–but great service often takes risks. 

Today, please take your time to listen and understand what someone really needs –and then take action!

By taking that extra step, you may impact someone’s life forever. 

No matter where you are reading this, consider asking today, “how can I serve those around me?” 

With this willingness, you may find open doors to go off-script, to extend yourself, to show love and compassion, and to leave a positive impact on someone today. 

Are you ready?

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About My Perspective

My career has brought me across thresholds and into the lives of (likely) more than 36,000 people over the past 12 years. I have learned immensely through conversations beyond the open doors, and I want to share what I have learned and use my passion, experience and unique position to inspire people to serve through love. 

I am a conversationalist. My intention is to bring you into a discussion that inspires thoughtfulness and brings action; one that moves the needle towards more compassionate, understanding, and loving service. I want to invite you to explore how we–you and I–can best serve the patients in our communities, and each other.

If you are interested in having me bring this conversation to your workspace, reach out below. 

Alex Gerber

Doctor of Physical Therapy. Dad. Friend. Adventure Lover. Community Facilitator. Conversationalist. 

Founder of Gathered Charleston, creating spaces to find community and connection (www.gatheredcharleston.org); MEND Charleston, a local men’s group for intentional men (www.mendcharleston.com), Get Out! Charleston, an outdoor adventure and connection group (www.getoutcharleston.com), and Moving Forward, an inspirational content platform (www.movingforwardministry.org)

reach me at gerberxc@gmail.com