Abigail (Abby) Marsh

Emotion is, I think, a good source of information, but it's a very bad boss.

We should never assume that our emotions are the true source of truth.

And oftentimes our fear is telling us to do things that aren't consistent with our values, right?

If you really do want to help somebody, it's normal to feel afraid when you know that there's a risk that you might be injured or that you might experience pain or discomfort.

And truly heroic people act in the face of that feeling and despite that feeling.

I think I had just a little taste of what some true heroes and altruists experience.

One summer afternoon when one of my kids was younger and had just learned how to swim and was paddling in a neighbor's pool and got trapped under like a life preserver shaped pool toy and didn't know how to tread water.

And so she started to sink underneath the surface of the water.

And just before her little face went under,

She screamed, Mommy, help me!

In this voice that like zapped like lightning through my brain.

And I truly acted without thinking.

I was in the pool, fully clothed, phone in my pocket, before I had thought even just for a second about what I was doing.

And I pulled her out from under the life preserver and I got her back onto shore.

And there was no thought whatsoever involved.

I was going to get in that pool and I was going to help her no matter what.

I can imagine the situation could have been much more dangerous for me and I would have acted exactly the same way.

And I think most parents would.

Absolutely.

I mean, it helps to remember that everybody out there once was a child, that many of us need help and assistance from other people as adults just the way that we all do when we're younger.