As you’ve figured out, I believe that if you do the right thing, the right things will happen. That’s not the reason to do the right thing … but it’s a nice consequence.
Some people have convinced themselves (justified) that they are doing the right thing, even when we all know it is not the right thing. Frankly, life is not meant to be complicated. It is straight forward. Do the right thing and you feel good. Do the “wrong” thing and you feel regret, anger, blaming, etc.
How does this fit with yesterday? I was at a pharmacy and a woman was being told that she needed money for her prescription and she didn’t have it. They told her that they would hold it for 10 days but that she couldn’t have it at that time. As she left, I asked the counter person how much she needed. She wouldn’t tell me but it didn’t matter. I ran out to get the woman and told her I would pay for the prescription. I’m not sure she understood english, but she knew what I was doing. When the counter person rang it up it was $1.00. How was it that no one in that busy pharmacy could give the woman $1.00? I was prepared to pay a lot more. That got me thinking …
It is so easy to just stay inwardly focused. To just pay attention to what’s in our life and not stay present enough to see (and feel) what’s happening outside. The people in the pharmacy were busy doing their job and I get that. But, failing to keep track of our surroundings and the people in them will cause us to miss our opportunities to help.
This was a good reminder to me. I think I have been inwardly focused lately and I needed a moment to step outside and see that there is more than just my little world. I have some friends who are constantly doing for others and I admire them so much. We need more of us to join in.
So, I hope you all get a chance this week to step outside (not in the snow but you know what I mean!), and join the world. Buy a cup of coffee for someone. A smile or hold a door. No matter how brief, it will change your day, week and maybe even more.
theyearof50 