Alex Ruiz is a Shining Example of Humanity #AtoZChallenge

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
83
The phrase 'Southern hospitality' is commonly used in America while describing the residents of the Southern region of the country. It refers to their generosity and big hearts towards visitors, foregoing their own worries to ensure their guests were happy. It may seem like an outdated stereotype to many, considering the harsh world we live in but thankfully, the heart willing to be kind to those in need still beats strongly even today within young individuals of the area.

When young Alex Ruiz, a server at the Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill in Douglasville, Georgia overheard a diner asking a fellow customer for help, he turned to see what the problem was only to realize that the diner seeking help had no arms. Without thinking twice, Alex walked up to the man, asked him if he could help him and sat across the table from him.

Oblivious to the gaze of fellow waiters and customers, Alex patiently sat with a smile on his face for half an hour and fed the diner, never getting up once during the meal and allowing the man to enjoy this rare comfort.


The viral picture of Alex Ruiz of Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill in Douglasville, Georgia

The viral photo of Alex feeding Ruiz was captured by a regular at the restaurant, Reginald Widener who shared it on social media, noting - "This seriously hit me right in the soul. Still good people in the world." Widener also noted that 'he had a smile on his face the entire time. He didn't complain about it; it looked like he really cared.'

Why I want you to remember Alex Ruiz -

At 22 years of age, Alex knew to make the extra effort for a man in need. He had the maturity to understand how hard and cruel life is for a man with no hands and not be rude or mock him - or worse, ignore him as we all would have done - but to actually spend half an hour feeding a patron at the diner without being ordered to do so by a staff member.

For his big hearted, selfless gesture and for adding to the legend of 'Southern hospitality', Alex Ruiz is a real life hero. 

Alex Ruiz is a Shining Example of  Humanity.

Alex Ruiz of Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill in Douglasville, Georgia

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.

Post a Comment

83Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. This completely warmed my heart. What a lovely story to begin the challenge! May we have more Alex-es in the world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex is a gem! Such people make life worth living. Looking forward to reading the rest of your posts on kindness during the challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vinodini.. hoping to deliver on all 26 posts.

      Delete
  3. Lovely theme :) We need such stories. Glad somebody has taken it up. Now, I too want you to complete the challenge, because such stories do inspire and inspiration is necessary to turn this world into a better place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its something I felt was unique and worthwhile... stories we've seen and smiled at but then forgotten with all else that happens in the world.

      Delete
  4. Such gestures of kindness need to be talked of more, and as Anmol says, I'm glad you've taken this theme for A to Z. :-) Will be back for your B hero.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. B is going to be a big bunch of heroes... and there is a pun in that description too :)

      Delete
  5. I just commented on another blog post how much I admire people who help others freely, instantly, without forethought. They simply do for others as if it comes naturally. This young man is one of those people.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So rare we find such people but the fact that they do exist makes me happy. We definitely need more people like him. Such a beautiful story to start A to Z :)

    Arts of Different Form

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the thing Swati... I feel we actively search, we will find many more of them. We just need to 'want' to find them

      Delete
  7. Alex is surely a hero. In a world when we are more concerned of the work we ought to be doing, we seldom think of fellow humans with an element of empathy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing such a tale of heart warming goodness. It does require special effort to be so selfless and uncaring of what ppl think and say. Kudos for sharing this Roshan. 😊👏🏻

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shalz... stay around this month. 25 more stories to go.

      Delete
  9. Heart warming Story! You have lifted my moods up! All the best to your challenge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad I could do so. And thanks... will need it.

      Delete
  10. It is rare to find such people but it is really heartening to know that there is still some good left in the world. Thank you Doc for sharing this story :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rare. yes. Which makes it all the more important to showcase them.

      Delete
  11. That is truly a random act of pure kindness. Nice one to start off the AtoZ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And it is kindness and compassion that I seek this month :)

      Delete
  12. I think we all have an Alex within us, we're just afraid to let him out most of the time. The world tends to be just that little bit harsher and crueler for such Alexes.

    Your sharing bar on the left side hides your content on desktops. Can you increase the margin a little bit?

    Happy AtoZing!
    Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the world sadly chooses to be more critical of good guys, insane as it sounds. And Thanks for pointing out the share bar thingy. Will look to fix it today evening once I get back home.

      Delete
  13. Admirable and honestly, I am overwhelmed. Guess, I will have to keep a check on my emotional side all throughout April. Thanks to your posts. I so so so love your theme, Roshan. And this one is a great start to the challenge!
    Thailand Travel Stories at Kohl Eyed Me
    26 Indian Dishes at Something's Cooking

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shalini... and I really envy you for being able to make 26 posts just on a holiday destination! At this point in my life, just visiting these places seems like a distant dream.

      Delete
  14. This hit me in the soul too... we definitely need more stories like this Doc... great idea... :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Our world will be an amazing place with such good souls & goodness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are people who do good. They just get relegated to minor two line articles inside newspapers. This is an attempt to immortalize them.

      Delete
  16. what a heart warming story of this young man. Real hero in life. Great to know about men who help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True. Hopefully, more examples like this will be there in our media on a regular basis someday

      Delete
  17. You picked an excellent example to start your challenge. This is a lot more than Southern hospitality. What a story.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a great way to start the challenge. I look forward to the other stories you are going to serve up....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks :) I do have some awesome heroes lined up.

      Delete
  19. This is such a heart-warming story! And stories like these makes world a better place. This reminded me of an incident in a restaurant in Kuwait. A mentally challenged man and an old man (probably his father) were sitting adjacent to our table. The old man was feeding this young man with so much love and there was a smile on his face all through the meal time, even though the man was not eating 'normally'. Of course, the old man must be his father or related to him. But Alex is a real hero for doing this selflessly for a stranger. May his tribe increase and looking forward to all your Shining Example of Humanity stories, this April Roshan. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Kuwait story.. These are the kind of things that need to be shared more. It's necessary for the public to know that these things happen even today.

      Delete
  20. Thank you for sharing. It is good to know that humanity still strives in this 'kalyug' where technology is mishandled most of the times. Instead of helping the ailing people shoot there condition on their smartphones so that the video goes 'viral'.

    I will keep visiting to read more from you.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In recent times, I'm shocked by how people just shoot videos instead of trying to help someone. It's bad enough that Noone stops to help but when you stop, to take a video of someone dying? How sad is that?

      Delete
  21. Such people make the world still worth living. A simple act of feeding a an arm-less man speaks a lot about the compassion in his heart. Heartwarming!

    Shubhangi @ The Little Princess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true. Speaks of his character at such a young age.

      Delete
  22. Thank you for sharing these stories and what a lovely theme! This warmed my heart! May this inspire the Alex in us. I hope after reading your posts we all share this kindness forward.
    Much love!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'May this inspire the Alex is us' I hope he hears that someday :)

      Delete
  23. Such a heartwarming story Doc. We need to remember that we have a little goodness in us all, and we need to act upon it more often. These posts serve as our reminders.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It comes down to that really - no matter who we are and what we have done, are we capable of a single decent when needed?

      Delete
  24. This is such a heartwarming story, Doc. Compassion , empathy and a little goodness is all one needs in this world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen to that. Yet such a rare quality today.

      Delete
  25. What a beautiful story to begin the challenge with Roshan! It filled me with so much of warmth!

    Cheers
    BoisterousBee

    ReplyDelete
  26. Such a warmth reading this. Beautiful Start. Looking forward to read to 26 stories. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. This made me smile and warmed my heart...so lovely to see that goodness still exists in this world. Thank you for sharing this Roshan! I look forward to more from you.

    ReplyDelete
  28. It's truly inspiring !!! Wish we have more such people in society ..waiting to read more such inspiring stories

    ReplyDelete
  29. I read these heartwarming stories you share and get completely teary-eyed. Like I told you before, now more than ever, we need stories like these to restore our faith in humanity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. That's why I take this challenge so seriously. Trust me. A lot of work has gone in already and some more still to come.

      Delete
  30. wow he is one kind soul... this is such a heartwarming story. So glad you shared this.

    ReplyDelete
  31. A great theme and a great first story. It is great to know about Alex and his kindness. I wish we have more people like him who can help others in need.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the idea - to find more people like this.

      Delete
  32. Yesterday, I would have said no one would do that. Now I know. Wonderful story.

    ReplyDelete
  33. We need more such beautiful stories to make us cheer life and loving even more.Loved how you made me say a silent prayer after reading this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lovely to hear that... many more coming up :)

      Delete
  34. Thanks so much for sharign this story. I think we need to read more of theme, because we are accustomed to think all people is aweful. That's nto ture. I move on public transports and I see little gestures of kindness all the time. It is heartwarming :-)

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter - 1940s Film Noir

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We need to share those small stories and gestures, I feel... they make others feel better about the world.

      Delete
  35. Beautiful theme and a touching story! We definitely need such shining examples of humanity to be written about as it brings hope to an otherwise grey and self centered world

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup... more examples like this are needed. :)

      Delete
  36. What a lovely man - good to know there are still people like him in the world!
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  37. While you are already aware that your theme is right on top of my fav list this april , interestingly - I had not come across this story so the freshness of it made the joy of discovery heightened. Hanging around to read your take on B.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, there are plenty more where this comes from :D
      Will keep on surprising you :)

      Delete
  38. A great start Roshan sir, the world needs more Alexes!

    Good luck for the entire challenge and look forward to reading about inspiring individuals and groups.

    Regards,
    Mahesh

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a wonderful post! Hats off to Alex for his gesture and act & a big thank you to you - for choosing such a wonderful theme!
    Good Luck with AtoZ. & i will be back to read these heart warming and reassuring in humanity stories.
    "*Ishieta @ Isheeria's*

    AtoZofHealing - A is for Affirmations"

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow! Every li'l effort is a grace to humanity! Such a wonderful story :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Once again feeling overwhelmed by this story...

    ReplyDelete
  42. In this world when some of us wouldn't mind buying food for the needy,we definitely step back when it comes to investing time for others. He is indeed an example. And not just that, the story is well written as well.

    ReplyDelete
  43. In this world when some of us wouldn't mind buying food for the needy,we definitely step back when it comes to investing time for others. He is indeed an example. And not just that, the story is well written as well.

    ReplyDelete
Post a Comment