Sometimes we all need to stop – and take the time to look up.

A colleague’s friend recently went to watch her son’s school cross country race.

Naturally she cheered her son across the finish line. And having given him a compulsory congratulatory hug, she was about to leave.

It was about then she realised she was one of the few parents celebrating her child’s achievement.

Deciding that work could be put on hold, she repositioned herself at the finish line, and cheered every runner across.

Success is too often only bestowed on the winners, when in fact being in the competition is a heroic act in itself.

By staying at the cross country, and especially acknowledging the plodders, she did herself and those runners a huge favour.

Our humanity is based on shared experiences.

Both the runners and the cheerer had lives that were enriched by crossing that finish line – together.