Stories of Kindness from Around the World

What an amazing week I had and it was all as a direct result of Saoirse setting off on his journey to walk from UK to India.  The day after he left I had my own eureeka moment when "i got it" -- the giving is recieving message he talks about -- and I made a decision to follow his example and dedicate each day to living the philosophy of "how can I help you?"

Since then I have not only become more human and considerate, by doing the little things like picking up bits of litter in the street, but I’m having loads of fun by going that one step further and I feel so connected and in rhythm with life that its unreal.

The other day when asked to give directions to a driver who was lost I offered to get in the car and take the journey with them to make sure they got where they wanted to go. They accepted my offer and couldn't thank me enough for doing so, while I was madly thanking them for giving me the "opportunity to give." I’d have never risked offering in the past for fear of what they would think of me, but because I was solely concerned with offering regardless of their response it was easy to do and I loved doing it.

Since then I’ve also seen a look of surprise turn to utter bewilderment, then to amazement and unbridled joy on the face of the bloke who stopped me to ask if he could buy a cigarette off me. I said, "Sorry I don’t smoke," and walked off.  But, 30 seconds later, I thought, "Hmmm how can I help him?" (I know it was tobacco, and how unhealthy I think tobacco is, but it's not my role to judge or play the stop smoking councillor, I see my role as helping and giving so that's what I did)  I walked back into the shop he was stood outside of and bought some rolling tobacco and rizzlas. When I gave it to him he looked a bit surprised, but you should have seen the look when he realised I was giving him the whole packet. Money couldn’t buy that look or how I felt.

Then today when someone else asked me for some change I gave them some and then I offered for them to come back to my place where I’d make them some soup and a cup of tea. They turned me down, but not without expressly thanking me because "nobody had ever offered them that before."

I tell you living like this is amazing.

Critic mask : "Oooooh, get you, mister look how wonderful I am, using beggars and the homeless to get his kicks and then reporting it to the world to look like the hero."

Fool archetype : "Fair enough, if that's what you think, but I know that’s not why I’m doing it. I’m doing it as a thank you to Saoirse, to prove that giving is recieving and because I really do want to help.  But, yes I’ll admit it, also because it feels liberating, However, isn’t that what freeconomy philosophy is all about" ;0)

Thank you Saoirse and keep up the great work.