Made someone happy today

The other day as I was about to leave my apartment, I saw an opportunity to do good for someone (in this case my neighbor).

Do pardon me while I not disclose any specifics (as it was a good deed for the sole sake of being nice - I feel disclosing it impairs my sincerity - bragging is not sincere). But what I did was relatively small. Today my dad brought in a thank you note that was pasted on my front door.

My neighbor Tracy said it's quite entertaining and her daughter (Ashley) finds it fascinating. She went on to say that I made the day special and put a smile on her face.

Mission accomplished. Small gesture. Big impact. This is the essence of it. The warm fuzzy feeling inside is what I love most.

Now my day has been made. :)

Mr Know-it-all eh?

I usually take this 'title' with a degree of offense. But since I am not a literal person (haha), some people have used it in what could be perceived as a compliment instead of a derogatory label.

I love helping people out with things. I love fixing things. Making people happy as a result of helping them out is very gratifying.

My 'adoptive' family here first gave me that title. First thing I did when they first took me under their roof was fix up and update their computer (I had geek urges ok?). :p

My friends call me for every single thing. Hey what do you know about cameras? What do you know about electronics? Hey, you're a computer whiz right? Hey can you help me with this?

A compliment I got was "Let's ask Scott, whenever I need help he always knows something about it" (talk about warm and fuzzy eh? :D ).

In all honesty, I enjoy it all. I love helping. I love using my strength to help others. It kills time. It kills my stress/built up aggression.

But my main reason is I know how it is like to need help. Even more so, I know how it's like to need help but have no one who is willing to help. As a child and growing up, I have always been that person in countless times. Smiling at them, hoping for something but knowing I am getting nothing.

As long as I am able to do something (without compromising myself that is - I live for myself but help others... :p ), no one I know will experience it.

Compassion

Wow I guess today is the day I write about my mind huh... :p

I was dozing off watching Food Network HD (muahahaha) and I saw this compassion ad. It said "If you can't do it all, do all you can".

Which is very true. Back in a previous post, I mentioned about caring and that I do what I can to help others.

Compassion, to me, is an extension of empathy (Empathy = knowing how another feels - a.k.a putting yourself in other's shoes). It's knowing the state of someone else and reaching out to help out in whatever way you can for the sole purpose of betterment (stop/reduce pain/suffering). Very similar to altruism.

But the ad just caught me off guard. Such simple small things can always benefit everyone in big ways.

Being Nice

Which is harder?

Being nice or being a dick?

For me being nice is less involved. Sure it takes time to help someone out. But I think there is a higher cost associated with being a prick. Don't get me wrong, if I can't help, I apologize and move on (I am a very frank person). If I wanted to be a dick (which in some cases is justified), I would have to think of something snappy to say (for me it isn't hard haha), make crap up and find some way to spite the other person. LAZY.

Being nice is easy. And it helps develop character and leadership. Sure you can have leadership by fear (traditional boss who strains vocal chords regularly). But again that is demoralizing and takes too much effort (as well as physical toll - age faster, pop veins, etc). But I won't babble on about management theories (oh I could go on! - Management is a great passion of mine - interrelates real well with the person I am). It also builds respect. Currently, I have a rather visible injury (my right hand) and my co-workers ask about it every morning. Oh how's it feeling? How's it feeling? They even joke about it and are empathetic if I am in pain. It creates a culture as well because I am exactly like that when one of them is down as well. We all know it's nothing too serious (umm tendonitis fucking hurts!) but it's nothing life threatening. But we ask anyways. Sure it may be cordial. It's definitely a conversation starter. We joke about it all the time. My property manager asked about it and when I told her about it she advised me to stay off the computer more (everyone knows my hardware '1337ness' I guess) and when I just grinned back (in a fiendish manner), she quipped back and said "yeah right huh?". I in turn replied, "Psh this stop me? Come on now!". Sure informal relationship of leaser and tenant but such a small act increased my respect for the other.

Small things add up fast.

Also today, I learned once again why it is important never to burn bridges. I personally prefer to build bridges (and maintain relationships with everyone I know). Very few people in my lifetime has prompted me to 'napalm the bridge' and sever ties. Future is never certain and you never know when you may be in need. As much as one would like not to believe, very few things in life (or in this world for the matter) can happen without another. You never know who that other is.

On a side note, a buddy of mine (Abe), has a buck on his car's center console. When we were at this burger joint just now (XXX Rootbeer - Ugh I had their huge ass burger and it's gonna sustain me till tomorrow LOL) I asked him what the heck. Why does he have that. he said that was his "Hobo Dollar" to give to the panhandlers at random intersections. Fascinating.