By Julia Pitt Royal Gazette . com
Pay it forward: polish your halo and pass on the kindness you’ve been shown
Recently, someone helped a friend of mine. I was away and she was in a fix — not an emergency, just one of those situations where you could use an extra set of eyes and an alternate perspective.
The helper wasn’t a relation or even a close friend but someone on the periphery who had spotted the distress and simply offered a hand.
With nothing to gain for themselves, they took time out of their busy day to meet up, review the facts, offer an opinion and advice and be an additional support. It gave my friend exactly the comfort and confidence needed to make a decision and move forward.
When I heard about this random act of generosity and kindness, I was truly touched and deeply grateful for their unexpected effort, especially as I hadn’t been here to help myself. Perhaps to them it wasn’t even a big deal: an hour of their time, a free opinion, but the difference it made was enormous and earned them hero status, in my book, for saving the day.
I am reminded of all the people who have appeared like this, like gifts, to help and guide and save my days over the years. Springing to mind are those who showed up in times of crisis, sometimes from the most unlikely places.
Like when my marriage hit the rocks — crashed and was blasted to smithereens is perhaps a better description. I was far from home and friends or family. It was actually the host of the knitting circle I had recently joined, someone I hardly knew, who saved my day/month/life. A virtual stranger who stepped in at a very dark hour, offering emotional support, practical help and a safe haven. We went on to become great friends. And there are others who only temporarily popped in and out of my life, but made a big impact with their brief presence.
The couple who let me use their phone and gave me a cup of tea when I blew my car tyre out; my friend’s mum who babysat my son so I could attend lectures; the shop assistant who raced around and found me the perfect outfit (on sale!) when my dress was ruined and I needed to get to work; the person behind me in the queue who said just the right thing to brighten my mood and shift my perspective on the day.
These are the everyday angels: folks who share their grace when we need it most. I’d like to thank all those who have offered their time and help to someone in need for nothing more in return than knowing they have made someone’s day a little easier and, in turn, the world a little brighter.
And maybe remind us all that we too can pay forward kindness and generosity. Let’s take out and polish our everyday halos.
•Julia Pitt Royal Gazette . com
Pay it forward: polish your halo and pass on the kindness you’ve been shown
Recently, someone helped a friend of mine. I was away and she was in a fix — not an emergency, just one of those situations where you could use an extra set of eyes and an alternate perspective.
The helper wasn’t a relation or even a close friend but someone on the periphery who had spotted the distress and simply offered a hand.
With nothing to gain for themselves, they took time out of their busy day to meet up, review the facts, offer an opinion and advice and be an additional support. It gave my friend exactly the comfort and confidence needed to make a decision and move forward.
When I heard about this random act of generosity and kindness, I was truly touched and deeply grateful for their unexpected effort, especially as I hadn’t been here to help myself. Perhaps to them it wasn’t even a big deal: an hour of their time, a free opinion, but the difference it made was enormous and earned them hero status, in my book, for saving the day.
I am reminded of all the people who have appeared like this, like gifts, to help and guide and save my days over the years. Springing to mind are those who showed up in times of crisis, sometimes from the most unlikely places.
Like when my marriage hit the rocks — crashed and was blasted to smithereens is perhaps a better description. I was far from home and friends or family. It was actually the host of the knitting circle I had recently joined, someone I hardly knew, who saved my day/month/life. A virtual stranger who stepped in at a very dark hour, offering emotional support, practical help and a safe haven. We went on to become great friends. And there are others who only temporarily popped in and out of my life, but made a big impact with their brief presence.
The couple who let me use their phone and gave me a cup of tea when I blew my car tyre out; my friend’s mum who babysat my son so I could attend lectures; the shop assistant who raced around and found me the perfect outfit (on sale!) when my dress was ruined and I needed to get to work; the person behind me in the queue who said just the right thing to brighten my mood and shift my perspective on the day.
These are the everyday angels: folks who share their grace when we need it most. I’d like to thank all those who have offered their time and help to someone in need for nothing more in return than knowing they have made someone’s day a little easier and, in turn, the world a little brighter.
And maybe remind us all that we too can pay forward kindness and generosity. Let’s take out and polish our everyday halos.
•Julia Pitt Royal Gazette . com
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- Posted by wavingatyou
- Apr 30, 2016
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