I was having a fantastic day yesterday, the kind of day where if it went wrong... well it did. I had someone complain about waiting on a printer to print.... while I was dumping out the waste toner box. It's not even my damn job, but I do it, I don't understand how they can be so lazy and then complain when I'm helping.
I jumped in the car on some work errands and while sitting at a light I saw a lady with 3 kids holding a sign that read: 'looking for help with food and housing'. It was obvious to me they were living out of their car and the kids looked like they hadn't seen a shower in some time.
I kept driving and took care of my business and then swung back into the parking lot and said hello to them. Sometimes people just need a smile or an encouraging word to know that all hope isn't lost, I would have to eat a whole lot of pride to ask for help but if I had to, I would. $50 in the form of a McDonalds gift card sent the kids bouncing all over the place with excitement that they would get to eat. The kids were very grateful and the lady was moved to tears that I would help them with such a large gift. I mentioned a few agencies in town that might be able to help and wished them all the best of luck.
My 'bad day' was a day they probably would give anything for right about now. The rest of my day was great. I'm not one to give money to people on a corner, but for some reason it was something I simply had to do. Not that McDonalds is good for anyone, but it's cheap filling food and $50 can go a long way with 3 kids and a dollar menu. I can spend $50 on dinner for the 2 of us if we go out to eat and it made such a difference in the spirit of this particular family. I always have the idea I was a sucker, but I'm not an optimist.
I enjoy helping people out when I am able. I am often asked what I would do in a SHTF situation if people I know showed up looking for help. Really hard to say what I would do since it hasn't happened, but it really depends on the situation, my family comes first no matter what. I would rather feel bad about turning someone away instead of feeling good for helping and then starving to death (as an example). I'm the one who took the initiative and got prepared when the times were good, it's not my fault others didn't.
I'm constantly reminded of the excessive and reckless habits of others and the lack of any planning. This is a great motivator for us, and it keeps us rolling forward even when we don't want to do anything at all. Better trained, practiced, equipped and prepared and hopefully we can survive just about anything.
May many jewels come for your crown.
ReplyDeleteIf you ask the right person they would tell you they are in charge and would melt down my crown for some good wine!
DeleteMax, I feel, in fact I believe that I have experienced good Karma from these situations before where I helped someone.
ReplyDeleteIt may not always be in a form you recognize, but sooner or later your caring and good deeds will come back around on you, possibly with interest.
I'm a huge believer in fate and karma.
Deleteand handguns.
It was truly nice to help out that mother and her children, best of all giving suggestions of where to go for additional help.
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me wonder when I see situations like that of what happened? Is this a result of bad decisions? How did it come to that where the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and other relatives don't rally around to help?
I don't understand how these things happen without continuous bad decision making. It's very rare for someone to go from excellent to sleeping in a car with your kids... without making a ton of bad decisions.
DeleteEven if I'm not in touch with relatives very often, I'm sure I could stay with them if needed with a simple phone call and a promise of hard work.
to my buddy Matt - i couldn't agree with you more. i feel that i have received much good karma simply for caring and trying to help whenever i can.
ReplyDeleteto my buddy Max - you did a very good thing and took a load off that woman for at least 10 minutes so that she could watch her children enjoy a meal at McDonald's and not worry what she was going to feed them. it will come back to you, buddy, as it always does. you also showed her kindness...something she obviously needs in her current situation. i hope that by your helping her you have set off the "kindness boomerang".
your friend,
kymber
The boomerang usually knocks the shit out of me, but even if nothing ever happens it was nice to make my really bad day seem silly.
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