Giving a Jacket, Receiving One
Some years ago, a guy in the subway was begging so I asked him if he needed clothes and he said yes. He told me to meet him the following week in exactly the same spot with my donation. I did, and I gave him a jacket which I happened to like but knew I could replace, and some pants. He thanked me and I was on my way.
Within less than a week, I walked past someone I knew and he asked me if I wanted a jacket he was getting rid of. It turned out to be better for me than the one I gave away, and it was exactly my size. I accepted it. This is one of many similar situations in my life where an act of selflessness generated an unexpected return of the same type of object I had given away. The most important lesson I've learned from these experiences would be that giving when I'm actually feeling generous produces some sort of "pat on the back" from a spirit or whatever, whereas giving with a feeling of being obligated really never seemed to have the same effect.
- Posted by communitynyc
- Sep 12, 2008
- Comments (8)
- Share Story
