First off thank you all for sharing the good things you all do for others. It gives me and - I’m sure - all of you a sense that there are kind people out there even in this heck-tic world we are living in.
** Damascene ** said:
Not sure on this but I’d say you’ve read a little of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. More importantly if you have not read about the Tao Te Ching then you have completely demonstrated its existence - or should I say non-existence - thank you!
Also The Rickchu said:
Yes and thats why helping others is intrinsically good for the soul. Again I’m happy this thread shows others around the world are helping out everyday… Making these boards step down to the human level shows not everyone is in the world is fighting, that there are people out there helping…
I enjoy it. We do our share of volunteering and charity work but it is the small, everyday stuff that I think is the most important. It is always saying please and thank-you, looking the convienence store clerk in the eye and telling him to “have a nice night” and meaning it, holding doors, telling a stranger that they dropped some papers, remembering details about your co-workers lives, noticing a new hairstyle, etc. As noted by Green Bean and Cranky, karma is out there.
I hope that this is the one thing that my kids learn from me.
(Welcome The Rickchu. May you post-count grow ever longer.)
I enjoy giving away stuff I don’t need to those who do; I don’t mind donating some $ when I can spare it; my job as a prof requires me to help students and I don’t mind that either.
I don’t like it when people try to take advantage of my generosity, but I guess that’s bound to happen.
I also don’t enjoy it when people dump all over me and/or expect me to solve problems for them that are beyond my control.
But when you get right down to it, I like it and it makes me feel better. Or at least good.
Sorry, I could have been clearer on that. What I meant was that the feeling I have when contemplating helping others is similar to the feeling Holden gets when contemplating the things he considers “phony.” The characteristic of “phoniness” that he perceives from polite society, conventional manners, etc., is, I believe, the same one I perceive when thinking about helping people.
- thank you!