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So I get a call from my "Mailboy" at work. Someone sent me a gift card. I didn't expect it. Don't know why I got it. Didn't see it as I work from home. I tell the Mailboy to keep it.
He calls me back two days later sort of out of breath. It seems that the gift card has more zeros than one might expect. He says he can't take it. I asked him if he could use it. He can. He is poor. He pushes back. I insist. He goes on about how this is such a big deal and etc. Pretty sure it makes me feel better to help a guy out. I certainly don't miss it. So Yay to the cosmos who somehow sent me a gift card I didn't expect or need. Not to blow my horn but hopefully some of you will have cool stuff happen to you. Be well! |
I failed at this recently, and feel bad about it.
Was at optometrist. Older guy with a walker, looked not affluent if you will, came in with his eyeglass prescription, asked if they could fill it and bill Medicare the $200, they said no, and he left. I caught up with him outside, and asked him to come back and I’d pay for his eyeglasses. He said no need, he was headed to a place that would bill Medicare, but thanks. I realized later, back at the optometrist, that I could have given him the money that his eyeglasses would have cost. I didn’t think of it in time, normally I don’t have much cash on me but that day I happened to have a few hundred $ in my wallet. I also realized, after talking to the optometrist, that he might not have been telling the truth about the place that would bill Medicare. I was once at the convenience store and realized I’d forgotten my wallet. As usual I was dressed like a homeless person (that’s if you believe my wife’s constant complaint; I don’t think I look that bad). An elegantly dressed black lady paid for whatever I was trying to buy (I forget what it was, probably $10 worth). I’ve never forgotten that. Another time, I was standing on the corner in Milan holding my daughter who was a baby at the time, I was very tanned dark-skinned, dressed in worn light-weight clothes, and surrounded by battered luggage, because we’d just spent three months in Australia, New Zealand and Bali where it was full-on summer. It was a freezing January morning and beautifully dressed Italians came up and gave me money. I’ve never forgotten that either. (I took the money.) So, I need to do better. |
I gave a sad looking Scottish beggar in Matera in southern Italy 20 euros as I felt sorry for him
30 mins later he was slumped over, eyes glazed over, spaced out but looking a lot happier Was a good lesson for me that no good deed goes unpunished |
^^^That is depressing.
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It’s great to encourage goodness to others.
And I’ve also been taught that if I do something nice for someone - and then tell anyone about it - that it doesn’t count… |
I think reading about others doing things encourages and reminds us to do them ourselves.
I also think that mentioning the good things you’ve done is not any less seemly than mentioning your neat car, new spoon, etc. |
Again, I think it is great to motivate one another to do something nice to improve the world we live in but IMO:
"I bought myself X..." - Brag but at least I am transparent about it. "I gave away X to help my fellow man..." - Humble Brag. I want to promote myself in the eyes of others. But, my opinion doesn't count. I just think that it speaks much more about a person when they don't announce their great deed. Levels of charity: 1. A person gives but is not happy when s/he digs into the pocket in order to give. 2. A person gives pleasantly, but gives less than s/he should/could. 3. A person gives, but only when asked by a poor person. 4. A person gives without having to be asked, but gives directly to the poor. The poor person knows he gave the help, and the giver knows who was benefited 5. A person gives a donation in a certain place, but walks away so that the giver does not know who received the benefit. The poor person knows the giver however. 6. A person makes a donation to a poor person secretly. The giver knows who was benefited, but the poor person does not know who the giver was. 7. A person contributes anonymously to a fund which is then distributed to the poor. 8. The highest level of charity is to give money and help to prevent another person from becoming poor. For example, teaching a person a trade, finding them a job, etc. (taken from a very old teaching) |
Let me throw this out. I am not very charitable. I know it. And it is something to work on.
Agree with the levels of charity. I find this thread fascinating and compelling. And, the OP may have changed my behavior? Certainly called attention to it. All of which are good. Planet Earth could use more nice folks about now. |
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One beautiful sunny day in San Francisco about 30 years ago, I saw this young girl, 18 maybe, sitting on the sidewalk on Judah St in front of a laundramat with a sign that says. "Pregnant and Homeless, Help" I was going to school, had a couple jobs, because I always seemed to have more than one, so there was dough in my pocket. There was this little market about 4 blocks from where she was where I always shopped, because they had fantastic produce, and it was close to the Yellow Submarine sandwich shop. I would get a drink at the market, get a sandwich and go sit in the park, that was practically across the street. If you are ever in SF, the place is at 5th and Irving, get a hot sandwich, trust me. So I walk to this market, buy a bag of groceries, they used to have fresh sourdough bread there that was great, everyplace in San Francisco has good sourdough bread really though. I take my $20 worth of grub back to this girl sitting on the sidewalk. I go to give it to her, show her the bread and fresh fruit, and she says, don't you have any money? I had some money, now I have some groceries. Took a bite of the bread and walked home. I guess I should say, now, I carry packets of nuts and cookies |
Virginia has a red flag law....
I'd contact ACPD and let them know about his return, his history here and his history at the other house. |
When the MIL went into care last fall, I noticed on their schedule of activities for the month there were some blanks. My wife mentioned I played and sang so within a short time I was on the schedule as a regular volunteer. In a facility with 50 residents, about half of them are able to be brought or assisted to the common room.
After the first couple of performances, I realized I was not getting the era of their preferred music (I was doing 40s and 50s, they were looking for more recent music). Eventually I worked up a booklet with 250 songs which got passed around so they could request songs they wanted to hear. (Irish Rovers The Orange and the Green is a favorite!) 40 years ago, my parents were doing pretty much the same thing. I would like to think they would approve. Best Les |
Driving around my small rural town saw a homeless guy with a cardboard sign at an intersection. I stopped next door and bought 3 hoagie sandwiches and muffins for him. Bummer that he'd left his corner and was no where to be found..........well the thought was there. I never give them money, and I had several days of lunches off those Hoagie rolls.
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