Simply Good

This blog post is primarily in response to some conversations I've had with people over the past week. For some reason, it's hard for some to accept the simple fact that there are good hearts in this world. That when a person is nice or does some kind act, it can simply be from the love in their heart for a fellow human being and not for any ulterior motive.

I grant that in this world there are people who are nice, using flattery and helping in many ways, to either get attention/recognition or influence another in some way. Some help others in this world because they believe it will lead to some great prize, including power. But I sincerely believe these are the minority.

Then there are many, many others who help people out of the love/kindness of their hearts. They roll up their sleeves and/or open their hearts just because it's another person in need, and their hearts go out to another human being who is suffering at the time.

The reason we more often see the minority is a combination of humility of the vast number of good hearts (and anonymity that goes with that), and that the media covers the darker side of human nature - the greed, the corruption, the lies. We are taught that this darker nature is what rules all hearts; that there will always be an underlying motive other than a good heart. But this is not true.

I believe the majority of people in this world would help another if they see the opportunity within their hands and believe they can help. A bit of faith in each other can go quite a long way.

Ulterior motive we don't need
To help another indeed.
Simply be Good.

- ESA

Birthday Blessings

"You did WHAT for your birthday?" That's the response I've been hearing for much of this week and may continue to hear until this week's close. Yesterday was my birthday. I spent the day at a church several miles away, hauling and sorting a truckload of donated items. And, yes, that is exactly what I wanted to do for my birthday.

When I see or hear about someone sincerely helping another, there is this warmth and Love that wells up from deep inside me. But much of my life I've been an outcast, and often only see that loving act from the outside. Rarely could I participate in it too.

Not only was I an outcast during my school years, low income can also make one an outcast. Practically all of my local organizations that have volunteer opportunities require membership for insurance purposes. "Membership" means about $200/year per person plus a monthly meeting fee of $25-$45 each "but they do feed you a nice dinner too" (as one person told us). So far, the VFW was the only one in our town that allows my husband and I to volunteer without membership. I've even tried the Girl Scouts, which is only $10/year for adult membership, but because I have never been blessed with children, the local GS troop leaders looked quite askance upon me every time I offered my services. :(

A few weeks ago, we were visiting my in-laws in a rural part of the state. In their church bulletin was a note asking for volunteers to help. The date they really needed volunteers coincidentally was my birthday, so I opted to take a vacation day and pitch in.

As I said, there is such a special joy when I see people helping each other. There is a value added beyond measure when an outcast like myself can become part of the group - especially when part of a positive act.

Thank you.
From my heart.

-ESA

Everyday Heros

On the news this evening they convered the continuing story about the sea captain who was captured by pirates off the coast of Somolia. The spokesperson added: when that captain left home to go on this job, he was just an ordinary guy, but he came home a national hero - showing us that anybody ordinary has the potential to become extraordinary.

While it's very true that each and everyone of us has the potential to do something or be someone extraordinary, being a hero doesn't require being extraordinary, doing great deeds or showing uncommon valor.

Being a hero means simply placing someone else's needs above your own. It can can be for a whole crew, a nation, your town, or simply a child or animal who is in need of something you can provide.

Every day there are thousands of unsung heros, ones that take the time and initiative to brighten someone else's day. They volunteer their time to some cause, or simply help an elderly neighbor with the shopping or snow removal. They take time to help a child with homework or learn a new hobby. They take extra time to play a game of fetch or chase the string with a pet.

Everyday heros are sometimes part of a larger movement, but often they work in small, simple ways, often unnoticed by the people around them, let alone the media or the world.

It can even be something as simple as passing on a smile to a stranger on the street.

Each of us should strive to be everyday hero. When our life is through and we look back upon what we have done, very likely we'll see that at least one of those times we only did "a little something" that what we did mattered a lot to someone who needed our help. And it's these "little something" efforts that makes this world a much better place to live.

- ESA