50 Questions: The Kindness of a Stranger

My friend MEESH (the pretty blonde in the picture above!) is writing an article called “50 Questions.” Asking everyone from family to close friends to random strangers something she wonders about them and writing the article about the answers. 1 person 1 question a day. I was the friend who was selected for Day 2.

Please tell me about a day that someone else’s kindness inspired you.

What would your response be? Mine…read below.

About 10 years ago, right after I left my first job working with at-risk youth for five years I found myself in a sad state of affairs. My worldview was shattered (longer story there, but in general I was assaulted by two of the residents and then a few months later had to resign because I didn’t trust management and feared for my safety and sanity.) I was unemployed for the first time in my life and realized quickly that trying to get ANY job to support myself would take away my unemployment benefits therefore rendering me unable to pay my bills. I was soul-searching and career searching and trying to figure things out while selling anything I could find, most of my CDs and books etc. I also started blogging as an outlet.

I realized quickly that people were reading and became friendly with a gentleman in California who also was starting to blog who had just recently lost his wife to cancer. Out of nowhere, this gentleman one day emailed me and told me that he wanted to help me out. He knew I was a good soul and in a hard place and he had the means to help me right now and knew I wouldn’t be able to pay him back for a long, long time (if ever) but wasn’t worried about that. He told me he knew I would do good things in the world and someday be able to pay back his kindness tenfold to others. I was floored. And humbled. This man sent me a $3000 check no strings attached to help me get back on my feet. And while I have always been the person who would give $20 to someone for gas money even if it meant my checking account would be negative until payday, this man helped me remember that this is the kind of person I want to be in the world. I never EVER imagined being in a position financially to randomly help others, but have always given my time and support when I could.

The last few years I have found myself in a stable position with my Husband and we ARE able to help others out here and there….and it is the best feeling in the entire world. (Yes, I’m a dork and crying while typing that.) A little here and there goes along way. And the kindness of all who have financially helped me over the years (my God there are SO VERY MANY) has always been one of the greatest blessings I’ve been given. Being able to give back tenfold (with the help of my Husband’s mothers/fathers legacy) is pretty much the most inspiring life I can imagine living.

Aside: Thank you HWMMS for being the amazing generous soul who is the same exact way. Finding a kindred out there in this giant world who gets this part of me is truly a gift I thank God for everyday.

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