Had trouble falling asleep last night and have been falling behind on other things. Not just that a number of little things have been going wrong in the past few hours. As I was hungry for lunch, I suddenly realized I hadn’t made it to Trader Joe’s yesterday as I had planned. And I was already behind schedule for the day.
So, I rush out, get my groceries and am leaving the store. As is my wont, I take my bags out of the cart to schlep them to my car. At that moment, one bag bursts with groceries scattering. Before I have time to see this as yet another thing going wrong, a middle-aged woman taking note of my troubles, says, “You need help.”
She hurries into the store, gets me a fresh bag and brings it out to me
She didn’t do very much. I mean, she didn’t even offer to help me pick up my groceries (well, I had gathered them all by the time she returned outside). But, just her recognizing that I needed help, saying as much, then doing something on my behalf made all the difference.
Things are going to work out today.
Gotta remember her small gesture the next time I see someone in need of assistance, however small.
UPDATE: Just shared this post with a friend who wrote back sharing an experience of her own which I reprint with her permission:
I love those kind of moments and I always try to pay it forward. I had that in the 99 cent store last week where a soda can I bought started spraying on me. I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights! This man just took it from me and ran it outside. I, of course, thanked him. But I still remember the gesture. It reminded me that there is goodness and kindness. When strangers help me, I always try to send them a silent blessing.
I love these kind of stories! Yes, there is a lot of evil out there in the world, nice to see it balanced out by small acts of kindness.
An acquaintance once told me how cold and mean everyone in Los Angeles is. I never found that to be true, maybe because I go out of my way to be pleasant and to smile at people. Often one’s own attitude has more of an influence on the world around you, than the world simply being mean.
And yes, it’s always a good idea to pay it forward.
That is a nice story. Its important to share that kind of story in a world where we’re more likely to hear of the times when no one helped.
“… for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”
— Middlemarch (which I’m still slowly working my way through)
Julie, unaccustomed as we are to the novel writing style of the 19th century. Let me make a suggestion if you are having a hard time reading Middlemarch.
Listen to it as an audio book! I did and I loved it, am slowly working my way through other George Eliot books as well. I’ve been trying to read Daniel Deronda and I’m stumped – so that too will go on my audible list.
btw, AFTER you have read the book, there is a wonder BBC series. It captures the characters and the story quite well – but in the way of televised shows – lacks the dept of the written or listened to word.
#4 – I concur, Leah. As an English major I was forced to read 19th century novels including Middlemarch, Return of the Native and a few others which certainly helped my insomnia during those college years.
However, a spoken-word CD of the novel is perfect for capturing the essence of the literary genius of those writers. Don’t forget, the vast majority of books that were written during the 1800s were for group-reads – where one would read aloud while the others knitted, quilted, cleaned guns etc. That’s what makes them perfect for audio books.
Kind of reminds me of the scene in Gone With the Wind where Melanie reads aloud from David Copperfield while they are waiting for Rhett, Ashley and Frank to return from their Klan meeting.
Regards,
Peter H.
Glad to see my readers referencing Middlemarch. 🙂
She could have been a Liberal.
#7 – Nah. She could at least spell and carry on a conversation free of histrionics and self-loathing.
BOOSH!
Regards,
Peter H.
#3 – Julie, here’s my favorite quote from the Victorian Era:
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?” — Mr. Bennett in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
Sort of like what we do to libtrolls around here.
Regards,
Peter H.
Wasn’t the Klan created in the aftermath of the Civil War? But I guess if you are writing a long drawn out sappy story with no real characters of ‘character’, then it doesn’t matter if your facts are wrong.
She absolutely could be – but here’s the thing Pinky, we judge people by what they do, not by their political affiliation.
I assume that in your book all conservatives are evil. We don’t feel that way about many Liberals – some like Pelosi and Reid fall into that category. But many are misguided in their world view – but as humans – they are wonderful outstanding moral pillars of our communities.
Actually, I don’t think all conservatives are evil. You may not believe this but one of my best friends is a Gay Conservative Republican. We have our arguments over political things but sometimes we agree more than we disagree. We both agree Bush is an asshole. He doesn’t think McCain is Conservative enough and I am sure there are may Repubs that believe that, too.
#11: “You may not believe this but one of my best friends is a Gay Conservative Republican.”
Nope. Don’t.
She could have been a Liberal.
I doubt it since she at least tried to help rather than thinking that somebody really ought to force the taxpayers to do it.
“She could have been a Liberal.”
Nope. No way she was a liberal. A liberal never wastes his or her valuable time concerned with the needs or wants of other individuals within a 20 foot radius. Liberals don’t give a damn about other people. They are focused exclusively on the well-being of large, vaguely-defined groups of people that they will never actually meet or have to make any real sacrifices for. They believe that global warming is a huge threat and that something needs to be done to protect “future generations.” They support gay “rights” laws like hate crimes legislation and anti-discrimination laws, not because they give a shit about anyone who has actually suffered discriminatory treatment, but so that “in the future no gay child” ever has to live in a world where they have to feel ashamed and afraid because of “who they are.” Liberals oppose war in the middle east because they don’t give a damn about the 3000 Americans that died on 9/11–they only speak out in favor of the “millions of innocent Iraqi people” that are supposedly being slaughtered by U.S. troops on a daily basis. Liberals favor amnesty–meaning they have no concern for American children in overcrowded, under-funded public schools where they might get TB these days–they stand up for the rights of the “millions of illegal immigrants victimized by racism while they are just trying to make a better life for their families in the U.S.”
Liberals can’t be bothered to piss on their fellow man even if he’s on fire. But they will go to the mat to protect “future generations,” “gay children of the future,” “millions of innocent Iraqis” and “millions of admirable, upstanding illegal immigrants who just want a better life.” Of course, they never have to actually meet or interact with any of these people (some of which haven’t even been born yet–“future generations”), and they don’t really have to sacrifice anything for these “people” they are trying to protect. No, their good deeds consist of making others (conservatives) feel bad about not doing enough for “future generations” and “millions of innocent Iraqis.”
My point is that liberals caring about their fellow man consists of nothing more than pure narcissism and making others feel bad about not being liberal enough. It also entails never having to meet any of those “groups of people” that they are sticking up for. That would be awkward.
#9 – Yes, Leah, but this portion of the book takes place around 1869, during Reconstruction. And from your comment, I can tell you’re not a GWTW fan.
Oh, well. It’s a Southern thing. No offense taken.
Regards,
Peter H.
#11 – That same comment is made by white liberal racists who have to justify their enlightenment by telling everybody “but yes, my best friend is a black man!” Then later on you find out it’s their yard man.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Pinky Bear.
Regards,
Peter H.
Dear Peter,
I thought I was Pinko Bear.
PS,
I don’t have a yard, hence; no yard man. Some of my best friends are Republicans.
#19 – And some of my best friends are hirsuite obese screamers who name themselves after some hibernating mammal.
Regards,
Peter H.
Peter, I first read GWTW as a teenager, and I loved it, I read it again later and it fell flat. Sorry, nothing against the south.
I felt the same way about Memoirs of a Geisha. The main female character is so involved with finding true love – that she never actually gives the real people in her life a change. I sort of felt the same way about Scarlett. She always loved the unattainable man. Or in Rhett’s case – didn’t love him till he had enough and left – then suddenly she realized she loved him all along.
I’m all for fairy tales, where Prince charming comes riding in. Mine did 30 years ago, so it’s not all fairy tales.
#19: “Some of my best friends are Republicans.”
That’s great. When one of them dies of cancer, you can be in charge of making the GOOD RIDDANCE! banners.
Dear Sean,
I know you are angry about Tony Snow being the New Age Goebbels. And I know if Obama died of cancer, you would be there in your white hoodie dancing to Dixie.
You should watch that projection.
#23: “I know you are angry about Tony Snow being the New Age Goebbels.”
How am I angry about something I don’t even believe? The person who is angry is the same one who posted “GOOD RIDDANCE!” on his blog.
“And I know if Obama died of cancer, you would be there in your white hoodie dancing to Dixie.”
Uh, no I wouldn’t. I’m not you. I don’t get off on people who I disagree with dying of cancer. But thank you for analogizing your gross reaction to Tony Snow’s death to a Klansman celebrating the death of a black man. I agree. Both reactions are roughly equivalent and completely revolting.
#23 – “And I know if Obama died of cancer, you would be there in your white hoodie dancing to Dixie.â€
I’d have to borrow it from Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), now wouldn’t I?
Checkmate.
Regards,
Peter H.
#21 – I enjoyed both books as well. In fact, I re-read “Memoirs” every so often and catch little nuances that I missed the first time.
The movie was great, IMHO. Especially the cinematography. I felt like I was in Japan.
Regards,
Peter H.
Thanks for all the Middlemarch tips. I have seen the exquisite BBC series. One of the reasons I decided to read the book was the beautifully read ending — by none other than Dame Judi Dench.
Perhaps I’ll try the audio book.
#19:
Just like the white racists-like you disingenuously tried to link Sean A to-who said “some of my best friends are negroes”?
You have friends? With the way you treat people I find that completely unbelievable.
The KKK is a traditionally Democrat organization. “Dixie” was written by an Ohioan. The treasonous confederates were all Democrats. The Jim Crow supporters were all Democrats. That party has been racist from day one, they just try to find a new kind of racism. Now it’s the soft bigotry of low expectations, of the kind that produced Barry Dunham.
#29 – Attmay, don’t forget these little “inconvenient truths” about Democrats and racism:
1. President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Bobby wiretapped Dr. King (a registered Republican!) during the civil rights era.
2. Governor George Wallace (D-AL) stood at the door of the University of Alabama vowing, “Segregation forever!”
3. Democrats voted against landmark civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965; Republicans helped pass it.
4. Over 100 Democrat members of Congress signed the “Segregation Manifesto,” which vowed to kill the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on both the House and Senate floor. The main sponsor on the Senate side? Sen. Albert Gore, Sr.
5. In 2004, Carl McCall was running for governor of New York, and was denied funds from Terry McAuliffe at the Democrat National Committee level. McAuliffe did not want to subsidize a black man for high office.
Shall I go on? I have a whole list at my disposal.
Hypocrisy, thy name is liberalism.
Regards,
Peter H.
I enjoyed reading this post and wanted to share one of my own favorite stories along these lines.
I lived in New York City for a year a long time ago. I was about 22. This was in the days before ATM machines, and I had run out of cash. I went into the little store closest to my apartment building–a little hole-in-the-wall store where I frequently stopped to buy beer. I asked the guy at the counter if he would cash a small check for me. He said he couldn’t, it was against the rules. I was desperate so I pleaded with him: come on, you know me, I’m in here all the time. What happened next was very interesting. He got a little bit mad at me for implying that he didn’t trust me. Yes, he said, raising his voice, I know you, I wish I could do it for you, but I am not the owner and I’ll get in trouble if I take a check. But yes, I know you, I trust you, so here–take this. He had moved to the cash register, taken out a $10 bill, and handed it to me. Take this from me personally, he said, and pay me back next week.
There are nice people everywhere.
I paid him back, of course, but I’ll also be paying that one forward for a long time.