People.. love em or hate em.

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:-D:-D

People, they can get really on my nerves but sometimes they have their redeeming qualities.

I was reading this article and it made me reflect on people and how many are selfish and self centered but many, many are kind.

I thought about many acts of kindness towards myself:

We were pretty poor growing up and there was this elderly lady who lived directly across the street. We always played with her nephews outside (we were probably around 8/9) and one day she called them in to eat dinner. She knew we were poor and must have seen our disappointment and called over to us "You know, I made way too much food for us all to eat and I don't want it to go to waste, would you come in and help me eat it?" It was really kind of her to phrase it in that way and every day since that time (until we moved) she always had "too much food" and asked us to help her eat it.

I went grocery shopping with a friend, and one of the items I picked up was leaking so I had to run back and grab a different one. I come back to see him putting his card away (I assumed he paid for his stuff) and I went to take my money out. He said don't worry, I already paid for it.

(I think I told this already) I was food shopping yet again (what can I say, I like to eat! LOL) I had on flip flops and it started raining. I slipped and really bashed my knee good on the curb. It was pouring rain, I was crying my eyes out and I was barely limping home. A man pulled to the curb and got out in the pouring rain to rummage in his trunk. As I passed him by, he handed me an umbrella. It made me cry harder and I probably looked so crazy.. here I am super soaked, and crying while trying to lug my groceries home with a bum knee. It was a very touching moment.

Then, I thought about the ways I've tried to be kind:

Paying for a strangers order because they don't have enough money (I've actually done this a lot now that I think about it) at supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. You'd be surprised how shocked people usually are.

I once had someone tell me no one had ever given her flowers before. So, I waited a few days and I went out and bought flowers and left them where I knew she would find them but she never knew they were from me.

I was at a different bus stop but I overheard a woman talking about how she lost her bus transfer and was asking people for either a token or cash and nobody would give her anything. She sat down and was quite distraught wondering how she was going to get to her sisters as she didn't have any money at all. I walked over to her and I gave the woman my bus token for my ride home (I had to bum money off my sister to get back home but it was worth it :-D) she was so surprised, she told me how she was became homeless and had nothing and was going to stay with her sister.

There is a website that I frequent called Wish Upon A Hero were people post wishes of things they need, things want or sometimes just prayers to know that someone cares. I "granted" a few wishes my self, sent some toys to little boys and girls because their moms had posted they were in really dire straits and felt bad because they wouldn't be able to get their children anything for their birthdays, Christmas, etc., some greeting cards to people who had a relative in the hospital, some people who were looking for just a little bit of cash to either pay a utility bill or to get some food until pay day. It's a great little site, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that you've made someones day a little bit brighter.


I know people can be generally good and if they acted like this the majority of the time, I could get along with them better. :-D

So, now it's your turn.. post stories of someone who showed you kindness or someone you showed kindness too. Go on, do it, I wanna feel all mushy inside :-D

 

Ain't it a trip being good and helpful? I often think I'm helping people because I know it will make me feel good,in a way it's really selfish I'm just after the high rolleyes

You can get a good buzz that lasts 1-2 days returning money to people but my favourite is fixing things for free,when it's fixed I wish the A-holes would just leave they can keep they're thanks it makes me uncomfortable.

I just want to bask in my own awesome goodness :-D

 

Well, I actually spend a good part of most days helping out others. Yesterday, it was pouring with rain and I was already late for a prearranged appointment with my g/f.
Okay, so just when I don't wanna see it, I see an old grandma with a flat tire on the side of the road. Obviously had no clue, or way of doing anything about it. So yeah, I couldn't help myself, I had to stop and change the old girl's tire. She was cold wet and miserable, so she sat in my car, drinking my thermos of tea, with my jacket around her while I labored away . So she got all that sorted, was really grateful, gave me a hug, (yeck!..uke), and I went on my way to my lecture, ('cause that's what I had install for me from "she who must be obeyed") rolleyes.
Well, I explained myself, and she just said, "I knew you wouldn't be able to pass someone by in need", and I had a good evening So all's well that ends well, so they say.:wave Though my back is killing me today, I'll admit.
No I can go back to being a grumpy old man again.:hammer

 

@ Rikky, I don't think it's ever selfish to help another person. Even if like the "high" it gives you.

@ Phantom, aww that's kind of you. I'm sure you really brightened up her day.


Come on people, I know there are more of you with stories!! (at least I hope so, if not, stop being stingy and go help someone :-D ) I'm not feeling mushy yet and sharing is caring.. Now share, or elseeee http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2009/351/2/7/Smiley_Shake_Fist_by_Mirz123.gif




LOL

 

On my way in to work this morning, I noticed a white van passed by me with its back door open. I can see flat boxes inside the van (no bumps were encountered so nothing came out). Though I didn't make an effort to catch up with the van, I "caught" with him at a red light and motioned the driver to roll down the window and told him. He thank me and was able to pull over to take care of it.

 

Not all work out as well, although I have done all of the above at one point or another.
But what gets stuck in my craw is the ones like I have seen TOO many times.
Standing by the side of the road with a sign asking for change because they are "unemployed".
At the end of their day, they walk a couple of hundred feet to a parking lot, climb into a Mercedes, and go home.
Or the ones that would rather have the cash when you offer to get them something to eat after them saying they haven't eaten in several days.

 

A couple of years ago, one of our customers had a flat tire right at closing time. She called a few people, but nobody could help her, and she had no clue of how to change a tire.

So, I stayed late, changed her tire for her. It was hot, dirty... She was thrilled, thanked me and said she would buy me a steak dinner. Lying woman never bought me a steak. That is OK, karma will get her. :-D

 

I was in HS there was the man who we believe was homeless, as he would walks up and down the (certain busy) streets looking very disheveled with dirty, ripped clothing on and carried a sign and a cup, who we nicknamed "the hola man" because any time he spoke that's only thing he would say. I would see him almost every day for the 4 years I was in HS and one day after graduation a bunch of us got together and we started talking and the subject of the hola man came up. One girl told me she saw him (and some point during our HS years) coming out a very nice house, dressed in a nice suit and got into a VERY nice car. I guess he made more money as a panhandler than we thought! :-D

While this is par for the course in helping people, there will always be the ones seeking to take advantage, I don't think it should stop you from continuing to help others.

Maybe that's why nobody would come help her. LOL

Agreed! Being nice & kind to people, although may costs you something, I think you usually get it back 3 fold in the long run.


Loved reading all these lovely stories, thank you all for sharing them with me! :heart

(and I won't even mind if you decide to add a few more )

 

And no, dyamond, it hasn't stopped me from trying to be helpful.

 

I got nothing extremely special, just holding doors for people and stuff like that.

But, I have been called a real Gentleman quite a bit.

 

We have a young guy in our building who can not resist going to sites that he should stay away from and i have cleaned his PC maybe 6 times now and have never charged him because his parents are friends and my thoughts are "you always help your friends.
Because of my physical condition i am not able to help with manual tasks but i like to think i can give a little sometimes.
When i had my last operation his parents visited me in hospital and brought a big basket of fruit and goodies,Tanya (his mom) said it's just to say thank you for helping Tom out.
consideration for others is not dead.