Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Reaching Out Doesn't Cost Anything
The last thing in the evening I would drive to the nearest courier box to drop my business files in the box. The courier service would pick up files at a scheduled time so timing was of the essence. Last minute holdups in my home office would mean I was out the door just in time to drive to the drop box.
One evening I pulled my car out of the garage, swung the car around and headed down an alley to take advantage of the short cut to the drop box. Thankfully I was not going very fast, because a form moved out in front of me. I slowed and then stopped.
A woman dressed in dark colored clothes was holding the hand of her little boy who was also in dark clothes. She was startled because she came out of their back gate and almost walked into my car. I got out of my car and told her it was hard to see her in the dark clothes. I asked her if she had a light color jacket to wear and she said no. So I walked around to my car's side door and retrieved my brand new sparkly white sweat hoodie and handed it to her. I gave it to her and told her to be safe and to please wear the white hoodie when she walked out in the dark.
When I pulled into the parking lot at the drop box, the courier was just unlocking the box to retrieve the files, so he took my files. The small delay was worth it in many ways.
So reaching out doesn't cost anything; refraining from reaching out may cost you amazing blessings.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
What a nice thing to do, Cici!
Random acts of kindness are good for the soul.
I so agree... reaching out is what makes the difference many times. Many people have reached out to me during the theft of my purse, and I feel a need to "pay it forward" myself.
I would bet that that woman has never forgotten your act of kindness.
Ms.A, you would have done the same to help them be safe.
Rock Chef, I like the word "random". There have been times I was the recipient of a kindness and sometimes I am able to give.
DJan, nice to know people care, yes? Sometimes we are in the right place to witness someone's need and reaching out is being fully alive and engaged in life.
Jeanie, my hope is she hasn't forgotten because it reminds her to be there for others like I was able to for her.
It doesn't take a lot to make a huge difference but too many people don't think this way or simply don't act upon these opportunities. Good for you for being one of those who do.
Great story. Very inspiring!
Hilary, sadly, some people do miss opportunities to connect to others. We should start a "Connection Club" to help people to be on the look out for those opportunities.
Abby, it is a simple thing, isn't it, yet maybe it prompted the woman or even the child, to look for things to do for others.
Yes, that really is a great story. I am sure that woman and her son never forgot your act of kindness. These things do have a ripple effect even if we are not immediately aware of it at the time...
It doesn't take much effort to be kind. Giving up something like a brand new sparkly, white hoodie in the interest of kindness takes real generosity.
This reminds me of what happened to me the other day. I had to go to the post office, a chore I really really do not enjoy.
As I walked from my car into the building a Dodge Durango pulled into the space next to my car. I was actually staring at the driver because I thought it was a friend of mine in a new car or at least a car I had never seen her in.
She noticed me looking at her. And she ended up behind me in the line at the post office. I thought I had better explain why I was staring at her so I did. Her expression softened. She said she thought I was worried that she would run into me as I dashed across the post office parking lot. We then proceeded to chat like old friends in the post office line. It passed the time and I am quite sure she felt relieved I was not mad at her.
being nice is always nice and the world could always more of it
What a generous thing you did. ((HUGS))
You have a precious heart.
true that...it does not take uch...time or effort and it can make all the difference in the world...
Stickup Artist, I hope the woman is still seeing times she can reach out and those people she reached out to are doing the same and on and on. What a world we could be living in if this were the attitude toward each other.
terri, the sparkly, white hoodie would have been hard to wear if I had not given it to her right then. It was obvious which one of us needed it. I can still picture her face.
Ina, isn't it fun to have a conversation with someone while waiting in a queue somewhere? I am glad you had that experience. Talking like you are old friends shows that we really are friends, just hadn't met yet.
bill, I am sure you do your part when you can to make the world a nicer place for us all.
Debby, I accept the big hug and appreciate your kindness.
Liz, it takes one to know one, my dear.
Brian, it does not take much at all and sometimes we can change someones heart.
Truth. I've often found that when I'm delayed, it has worked out well for me, and there have been many times when I've hurried and had bad things befall me. I firmly believe that everything happens for a purpose, whether we initially recognize that purpose or not, and if we take the time to go back over our lives and sort through things, we'll more often than not see the good that has transpired. And if we can't see it now (some things seeming so horrific that it would appear impossible that they are 'good'), I do believe we will eventually attain the knowledge needed to make sense of all.
I am an angry person. If i am delayed, I would be angrier still to anyone who is in my way. But to think that an accident could happen because of our haste, this gave me pause.
See? Your blog never stop to give me some new perspectives in life.
Sitting here smiling and wishing you were my neighbor too. What a beautiful gesture and a potential lifesaver.
xoxoxox jj
Post a Comment