Three times this week I have done good deeds for strangers. I’m not bragging or looking for praise; none were exceptionally kind or selfless, indeed each time the cost to me was minimal. But all three improved the lives of the three strangers in some way or other.
- I was approached by a homeless person begging for money. He claimed to need £40 for cheap hostel accommodation for the night and told me a story about how due to mental illness, the council had evicted him from social housing. It wasn’t a very likely story, as such an eviction on those grounds would be illegal pretty much anywhere, and I am the last person to be moved by another man’s tedious sob story. But the man clearly needed the money more than me. He may have been too proud to say what he actually needed was food (he certainly looked half starved). Even if he just wanted drugs or alcohol, who am I to say he can’t
get what he wants just because he’s poor? So I gave him £5, and told him he just needed to approach seven more people and he’d have his £40 target.
- I was walking through a dodgy part of town late afternoon on Hallowe’en when I heard someone shouting for help. At first, I thought it was probably a Hallowe’en prank. But, I couldn’t see where the noise was coming from so I was intrigued. I heard it again, more frantic than before, and pinpointed the cry to one of five ground floor windows on a block of flats (the Britishisms are strong in this one!). Figuring it must be the one open window, I climbed up the fence to see in properly and sure enough, there was a young man lying on his bed in a filthy hovel of a room shouting “help!”. I asked him if he wanted the police and he managed to slur out “ambulansss”. He’d clearly overdosed on something or other, as he wouldn’t respond to any of my other questions except to shout “HELP!” again as though nobody was there. So, I phoned the ambulance, having to explain where I was even though I didn’t know the name of the street or the house number. Fortunately a neighbour had been drawn by the noise and was able to give me those details and the paramedic arrived about three minutes later. By this time, the man had vomited all over his bed and had stopped speaking or moving. The paramedic arrived, amusingly bungled his attempt to climb the wall as I had done and decided to go round the front. At that point I went on my way.
- On a busy street in the centre of town, I saw an old man looking slightly bewildered and confused. I see people like that all the time, my senses home in on them. This one was trying – and failing – to hail a taxi. I approached him and offered to get a taxi for him. I had the app on my phone and knew that they typically arrived in the same amount of time as the ambulance in the second story. On this occasion, the man politely refused my help and said he was just going round the corner anyway and could possibly get the bus instead. “Well the buses sure are cheaper” I told him “In fact they’re free for senior citizens”. “Are they now?” the old man asked, practically licking his lips at the prospect of a free ride “thanks for your help, kiddo”.
All three of these are minor good deeds at most. I don’t really feel anything, nor do I think of moral considerations when doing them. If I were to try to justify them, I would say that being able to respond to human need and improve someone else’s day with little or no real effort or sacrifice on my part is a logical win win, but in the moment I don’t even think of this. In truth, I did them for no reason at all.
I wonder how many of you empathically gifted people can truthfully say you’ve done something nice for a stranger in the past week, something that has gone beyond everyday politeness that is. I am not judging – the number may be high, it may be low, but what I am saying is when the so-called “worst” of humanity are capable of helping a stranger for no reward, then surely we all are. If it’s been a while since you helped anyone, why not give it a try this week? Why not do something nice for no reason at all?
James 13:52 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
Sorry about that, it’s not my doing and not aimed at you. The comments are frequently turned off for my posts it seems. Probably a conspiracy!
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Amaterasu Solar 13:54 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
Not a problem, James. Though I doubt “conspiracy” in this case. LOL!
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James 13:55 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
Someone’s definitely got it in for me!
Glad we are still on speaking term, dear One.
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Amaterasu Solar 13:59 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
LOL! I hold no animosity, dear One. I am all too used to dealing with Those who, though history is replete with conspiracy, refuse to accept it as the order of the day today. (The psyops, sloppy psyops!, that are given as “truth” – Sandy Hook, etc. – should be a clue about conspiracy…) So I just let it flow. [smile]
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James 14:01 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
OK. Are you retired or unemployed? What happened to your pension if the former?
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James 14:48 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
I could have sworn I left you a reply, asking about your employment / pension status.
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James 14:57 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
Basically, are you unemployed or retired? Do you have a pension to fall back on? Is it any of my business? etc etc
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Amaterasu Solar 17:21 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
Was laid off close to 10 years ago, went through savings/”retirement” money, still a little bit too young to collect SS, battling to get disability (rheumatological condition, Lyme), wound up homeless for a while, friend who, though He struggles Himself, rescued Me and pays My rent/util on the cheapest place in the area (16’x16′ cabin w/hot plate, toaster oven & fridge for “kitchen”), and in that nearly 10 years I have applied to over 100,000 jobs. Had a number of interviews and most seemed to go very well – but then I have been ignored on inquiry, told jobs are filled but then they are newly posted on the same site I found them on the next day, told that “the job description changed and You don’t qualify,” and other weirdnesses. Given the statistics and weirdness, I strongly suspect that I am a targeted Individual…
I get $194 a month in food stamps and, except in the months I have received $50 (or $20) in donation to My work – which are rare – I end each month often on only chia seeds to eat.
Thus is My situation.
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James 22:20 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
Shit. America needs the welfare state, but you never will because it somehow compromises your ‘freedom’ (to be practically destitute because you’re disabled, what a glorious freedom)
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Amaterasu Solar 20:31 on November 9, 2015 Permalink |
Working on solving the problem. [smile]
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@GeneticPsycho (Tina) 17:42 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
It should be under your control. The checkboxes need to be checked for “Allow comments” when you create your article.
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James 22:18 on November 4, 2015 Permalink |
I don’t have that box. Remember, you’re the admin, it’s you who publishes everything, so it’s you who gets to decide about comments. If you want to hand over more responsibility, then fine, if not you’ve got to do your job properly.
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@GeneticPsycho (Tina) 17:31 on November 9, 2015 Permalink |
I guess I forgot I was the admin. I might just keep forgetting just for giggles.
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James 21:08 on November 10, 2015 Permalink |
You bloody clot.
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