사람 대 사람으로 진심 어린 공감을 한다는 것이 무엇을 의미하는지. 어떻게 하는 것인지. 어떠한 긍정적 반전을 가져다주는지를 생생하고 절절하게 전달해준다. 여전히 세상은 괜찮은 곳이라고 느끼고 싶다면, 그래서 위로를 받고 싶다면 관리사무소 직원들이 전하는 이야기 속으로 들어가 보기를 권하고 싶다. -경기대학교 민소영 교수 추천사 중- 삶은 속도전이라 할 만큼 바쁜 현대사회지 않는가. 그래서 자신 외에 타인과 공감하며 소통한다는 자체가 부담스럽고 여유조차 없을지도 모른다. 그러나 그것을 적극적으로 감당하며 쓰러진 삶을 일으켜 세우는 데에 고군분투하는 이들이 있다. 영구임대아파트 단지에서 일하는 관리사무소 직원들이다. 물질적 결핍뿐만 아니라 사회적 고립을 겪으며 살아가는 이들의 삶은 상상 이상으로 외로움이 가득하고 위험천만할 때가 많다. 처음에는 오해하기도 하고 충돌도 잦지만 결국 그들의 메시지는 한가지였다. 절절한 외로움이었으며, 긴박한 생계의 위협에 도움을 청하고 있었다. 그때마다 피하지 않고 그들과 소통하고 여러 방면으로 지원 체계를 연결해 돕는다. 그러면서 그들은 어느새 서로의 삶을 응원하고 고마워하고 가족보다 더 끈끈한 관계로 이어져 가게 된다. 50여 명의 사람 냄새 가득한 현실 이야기에 마음 따뜻해지는 위로를 한가득 선물 받을 것이다.

머리말 1. 공감 더하기 따뜻한 임종을 함께하며 ························································································· 10 포토존이 된 불빛정원 ···························································································· 16 든든한 이웃, 강원도 총각 ······················································································· 20 변화를 주도하는 관리사무소 ··················································································· 23 공감하는 민원응대의 중요성 ··················································································· 26 방구석 피크닉 ······································································································· 29 제가 더 도와 드릴 게 없을까요? ············································································· 35 바퀴벌레와의 사투 ································································· ································39 제발! 제발! 살아만 계셔주세요 ················································································ 42 다시 찾은 온기 ····································································································· 47 쓰레기 줍는 어르신 ······························································································· 50 101호 아저씨 ······································································· ································53 누군가에게는 작은 도움이 큰 행복이 될 수 있다 ······················································ 57 작은 관심과 배려는 입주민의 행복 ·········································································· 61 알코올 중독자의 놀라운 변화 ·················································· ·······························65 삶의 끝자락에서 마주한 가족애! ············································································· 71 아이를 찾아주세요! ································································ ·······························75 천사와 악마 사이 ································································································· 78 2. 응원 더하기 당신의 삶을 응원합니다! ························································································ 84 “100세 이상 어르신 장수 잔칫상” 행사1호 ······························································ 88 정자 ‘앞’ 할머니 ··································································· ································94 안 되면 될 때까지 ······························································································· 100 백지장도 맞들면 낫다 ··························································· ·······························105 살기 위한 노력이 아닌 살리기 위한 노력 ································ ·······························108 불편 사항 있으면 언제든지 말씀해 주세요! ····························································· 111 문이 안 열려! ······································································································ 115 민원인에서 완전한 내 편이 된 입주민 ···································································· 119 내가 드렸던 음료가 나에게 돌아옵니다 ··································· ·······························122 장애인도 사람이다 ································································ ·······························125 웃는 얼굴에 침 뱉으랴 ························································································· 129 지금 만나러 갑니다 ····························································································· 132 집까지 걸어가기 힘들어요 ···················································································· 135 실수가 문제야 ······································································ ·······························138 3. 희망 더하기 “토끼야! 안녕” ···································································································· 144 꽃길만 걸으실 나의 멘토 할머니 ··········································································· 149 간절히 바라면 이루어진다 ····················································· ·······························154 나도 이 목도리가 갖고 싶어! ················································· ·······························158 그건 제 이름이에요! ···························································································· 163 건강한 마을공동체 ······························································································ 167 가슴 따뜻한 봄 소풍 ···························································································· 173 할아버지의 세상 구경 ·························································································· 177 치매 어르신의 아들 ····························································· ································182 벼랑 끝에서 만난 삶의 희망 ················································· ································188 도움을 드려도 될까요? ························································ ······························· 192 생명지킴이의 필요성 ···························································································· 195 매일 1만원을 받으러 오는 입주자 ·········································································· 200 홀로 사는 할머니의 아파트 정착기 ········································································ 203 도움이 필요한 사람들 ··························································· ·······························208 할아버지의 한마디, “고마워” ················································· ·······························212 누구든 먼저 스스로 ······························································ ·······························215 저장 강박과 ‘나비효과’ ························································· ································218 추천사 ················································································································ 222