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(OT)

This morning at the laundrette at about 5:30 am I helped out a wonderful old black lady who was having trouble with the change machine. I couldn't do much with the machine so I gave her some money and change for dollars. I have hardly anything but it sure made me feel good though I didn't do very much at all.

I for one think American people are some of the best people on the planet, I mean those who work with their hands mainly. Charity however I see very little of. Perhaps its the constant barrage of advertising, solicited phone calls, despite it being against the law once your number is listed on the "DO NOT CALL" list. It could of course just be down to the present climate, yes of course that must be it.

People used to smile a lot more. I remember it well too. I thought Wow he's from Russia for example, and he spoke to me! Everyone in the mix and the mix worked very well and for a very long time.

Not so these days. People walk about with glum expressions of distrust and dismay, it doesn't matter really what walk or place of origination either. It's like someone injected all of them at night with some acid that seals the face making them all look rather the same regardless of color.

Here too people are at the point of minor verbal explosions, forget the avatars for a minute, they just are not real, read the words.

I still wander into stores and smile. Always been my way and its cost me sometimes too since most think I'm selling something but no matter I just don't go back again is all, which is of course sad.

Someone once said of me. "You can take Chippy out of England but you cannot take the England out of Chippy". I wondered what he meant by that for sometime, but of late I'm starting to see exactly what he meant. That is my Achilles heal in some ways.

Anyway I see a smile a laugh, not forcing your thoughts upon someone who does not want to hear, offering a hand instead of backslapping, giving what you can without giving too much and many more things the mark of true Charity.

That's my take and the last of my epics and for me a return to music. Thank you.

Have a fantastic day!

Yeah, Chippy, I noticed a long time ago that when you smile, it makes others around you smile. Same goes for frowns. I was in a checkout line at a store and a younger guy was ahead of me. He had the classic "I've got the whole world on my shoulders" frown and the young girl at the counter had the same look. When he was finished and I stepped up with my perpetual smile, she started smiling too. I never forgot that. On another occasion, I was walking to a store a couple of blocks from my dad's shop and a young couple in a beat up old car were having car trouble. It had stalled in the middle of the street. Well, I just walked up behind to push it out of the way and at the same time, a prominent lawyer and a prominent businessman from here walked up behind and we all three pushed the car off to the side of the road. Then we all went about our different businesses without a second thought. Later, when I thought about it, I thought, "I love a small town."
Charity comes in different forms, but, you're right, it doesn't come often enough anymore.

I think it's important to practice random acts of kindness. Taking the opportunity to brighten someone else's day can start a wonderful chain reaction.

The only charity worth practicing is the kind you dont hear about.
$20.00 in the hand of a friend or co worker in need will go further than $2000.00 to any "public" charity.

First of all Chip, I'm digging the new picture! Super Chippy! Flying high over the city!!

Now, to this post, I agree with what you're saying. You said in another thread that you and I have similar beliefs, and I think that is true.

My wife and I take our daughter downtown every weekend to go to the park, walk around downtown, learn social interation, etc. There's been more than a few occasions where a homeless person has approached us for money, telling us they are hungry. We rarely carry cash, and even if we did, I don't know they will use the cash for food, as opposed to drugs or alcohol. Anyway, I invite them to come eat with (if we haven't eaten dinner yet), or we walk with them down to Jimmy John's and get them a sandwich combo, or get them a hot dog and chips in the park. We've had people have asked us why we do this because they believe we are putting a big bull's eye on ourselves for homeless people to mooch off us. I usually laugh (not rudely -- I just can't believe they would be that cold...), and explain that we've never fed the same homeless person twice. I think they respect us because they see that we have a genuine interest in people's well being. They don't want to take advantage of us.

Yes, homeless people are dirty, and a little scary looking sometimes. But they're people -- down on their luck, lost everything they have, disrespected and thrown to the gutter by our society. I don't believe they deserve pity, but respect. The stories of where these people have come from and how they ended up homeless are remarkable, and I feel bad that they went through these experiences. We show these people respect with some food and drink, some conversation, and if we have some cash, a little bit of money. Just this little bit of respect causes an immediate change in attitude and personality in the people we've helped, just like you were saying about smiling causes others to smile. The world could use a lot more love, and a lot more respect for other people.

We're not perfect. We don't always have enough money to help people (whether homeless people downtown, like the above example, or any number of other situations), and there have been times where the people approaching us for money were clearly strung out or high on something. That said, this is not an all the time thing. It sure feels good to have a positive impact on people when we can though.

Cheers to you Chippy! Have a good rest of your day.

I have done the same Pocket.

I think it better to address the need. (as in the stated hunger).
Throwing money at them is the cowards way out. It's even easier and is less confrontational than just telling them "no, go away."

I was told once in a lesson to go observe a specific "begger" on a specific corner.
(My teacher often gave me strange tasks)
Just after the morning rush hour of traffic had tappered off at her chosen corner, she walked around the block and drove off in a new Cadillac.

"Take that lesson however it stikes you" my teacher said.

Years ago working the register at a truck stop I got held up and the guy was grinning the whole time. I can still see his face to this day. I didnt feel much like smiling then.

But, I try everyday to put a smile on someones face somehow. I may not get it done every day but I try.

Good Post Chippy

There are soooooooo many GOOD people out there. Sometimes we shine, other's we act like a limp wrist. But when we do shine I'm pretty sure we all light up rooms and all the dark spaces with our presence.

Yeah done that too. I attract people who are down on their luck for whatever reason, animals too as it happens. Seems like they sense no danger from me perhaps? (Dunno?).

Something on the wind today?

Rain

Anyway and thank you SO much for the replies. This morning I felt alive again. Wonderful feeling. Cannot get enough of it really. I love making people smile and look at me in an odd way. And I guess that brings us back to that notch in the branch of where most of us on here live.....

Music. It makes me smile, feel odd at times, makes my back crawl and so on... and so on.

But boy oh boy. Changing something for the better even if it lasts just seconds is way more beneficial for everyone.

Thanks again.

Chippy.
(ps. Yes Pockets ~ on the nail).

I hate adding to this sorta thing, cuz I don't much like tootin' my own horn that much...but I have done a roof job for some old folks I didn't know for free, cuz they needed it. I've done some other stuff, too. Free lessons for a kid who's family has hit hard times. Funny how it makes you feel, like it somehow means more than other stuff you do. I like it best when the things I do are anonymous, for some reason, though. Don't wanna ruinate my "a-hole" rep, I guess. LOL

Nowt wrong in saying you did good Phil. Peeps say they do good often times and really don't. I know that you did so good on yah.

philbymon wrote:I hate adding to this sorta thing, cuz I don't much like tootin' my own horn that much...but I have done a roof job for some old folks I didn't know for free, cuz they needed it. I've done some other stuff, too. Free lessons for a kid who's family has hit hard times. Funny how it makes you feel, like it somehow means more than other stuff you do. I like it best when the things I do are anonymous, for some reason, though. Don't wanna ruinate my "a-hole" rep, I guess. LOL

Eh...talking about it seems like it cheapens it - or takes the magic away...

I know I'm weird.

I don't mind telling ppl about benefits & such, but the personal stuff I do is just that - personal, ya know?

philbymon wrote:Eh...talking about it seems like it cheapens it - or takes the magic away...

I know I'm weird.

I don't mind telling ppl about benefits & such, but the personal stuff I do is just that - personal, ya know?

I don't think you're weird at all Phil. I shared that particular story simply because it was so relevent to the thread. I'm not normally one to do something good for someone and then go tell everyone about it either. I think that its important to share relevent life experiences though, when its appropriate.

I respect what you said about remaining anonymous too -- sometimes, its just best to do things that way.

Take it easy Phil. Have a feel-good kind of day!

Yes Phil, I agree.
Like I said above, the best kind of charity is the one no one hears about.
Their is a magic thats lost when you tell the story. It's a psychological form of payment for the act I think.
When ever I help someone on the roadside and they attempt to pay me I tell them that their debt is to the next person they see in need of help not me. Pass it on !!

philbymon wrote:I hate adding to this sorta thing, cuz I don't much like tootin' my own horn that much...

If you don't, Phil, who will?

Pockets,

Worse even, than being down on their luck. The majority of homeless people in America suffer mental illnesses. As much as I admire Ronald Reagan for so many things, this is one he is responsible for. His administration basically worked it out so that the government was no longer responsible for mentally ill people who had no insurance. They had no alternative plan for them. They just let them loose on the streets.

A good many, most, of these people should be in mental health facilities and getting treatment and help.

I think your compassion was evident in your post. And it makes me happy you have that kind of heart.

But once again, extreme positions are to blame for two lines of thought which BOTH have a place at the table.

The idea of doing things anonymously, is meant to take away any possibility of ego being involved. The Bible speaks on this, but it is criticizing religious types who do some small act openly, so they can pat themselves on the back, and get praise from others. The Bible never meant for this to mean that it is wrong to share charitable deeds ALL the time. It is addresing one specific type of person, who rarely goes out of their way, and when they do, they do it openly, and only for praise.

But you are absolutely right, that it is very important to share things like this sometimes. In sharing what you did, you may very well have accomplished several things...

Some people may be encouraged to follow your lead, and the next time they are presented an opportunity for service or sacrifice, they may very well take it that time, remembering the inspiring story you shared.

Also, you humanized a tragic problem. So many people, I dare say, maybe even most, consider homeless people "bums" and "reprobates" who are lazy or nuisances, etc...

They often have no idea how the Reagan Administration basically singlehandedly caused the problem of homelessness to go through the roof. There just aren't many options available for these people.

The majority of them are not lazy, or evil, or bums...

They are ill.

And a mental illness is not treated by giving them a place to sleep at night.

Thanks for putting a human face, on a very human tragedy.

Thanks for realizing there is something deeper going on here. People, who truly are in need, and most not due to a lack of character or work ethic.

Don't stop giving.

You may have very well inspired others without even realizing it, when they saw you give out of your heart, on the street, to a stranger in need. Who knows whether they did something themselves, from your example, the next time they got the opportunity?

Thanks for sharing this.

And thanks to you Chippy too. I saw inside your heart awhile back. Thanks for sharing your heart and thoughts.

There are many reasons America is suffering in the humanity department these days. Many reasons. We need to be reminded of what made us such a charitable nation in the first place. We are losing our common decency. We need to be reminded of it.

Thanks for reminding us Chippy!

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