Or bought the next person in line at the barbershop or salon their cut?
Or paid for a few people behind you in the toll line?
Or just told someone you love them?
What if you went out of your way for a stranger?
Offered a compliment on someone’s appearance?
Told a telemarketer how much you appreciate their call?
Rubbed your spouse’s neck?
Actually sat on the floor to talk to a child?
What if you called your mom just to say hi?
My friend and fellow St. Pete author, Kris Radish, let me share with her book club last night. Picture Boo Walker talking with forty smart and engaging women who have all read my novel, Red Mountain. Imagine my smile as we talked about the characters who live in my head WHILE drinking Red Mountain wines. Kris didn’t have to do that for me; she’s just that kind of person. And I woke today determined to pay it forward.
Has anyone done anything amazing for you lately? Or have you done something for someone else that’s worth sharing. Please comment below. I’m looking for creative inspiration!
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After a series of very expensive things over the holidays such as an injured cat and $2000 so far in vet bills and a blown car engine (at least $1000 at this point), friends and family have offered to drive me where needed, a free meal out (much appreciated), and a low-interest loan to pay the bills. I had spent a lot of time, some money for motels, and travel to help a friend in similar circumstances who was also stuck in a strange city more than once, so these helps from friends and family were most welcome. Also, with our minister terminally ill, I have spent a lot of time at the church, covering needed access, answering the phone, meeting packages, etc., while i had my car. I have since had a lot of feedback on how much people miss my presence! I have come to the conclusion that this lifetime I needed to learn to both give and take.
The best parts of being home all the time lately have been time working on beta reads (a huge pile of some pretty awesome authors awaits!) and having a couple of furry quilt anchors purring me into naps during the unusual cold and snow spell here in SC.
One more note: as a tutor, I have had the pure joy of helping struggling readers (a few) rise to voracious readers who love writing reviews. One of them discovered a love of forensic pathology and began taking extra HS and college courses in HS. She went from a rising sophomore to 2 credits shy of graduating last year. She is now loving her half-day senior year and going into the Army officer program upon graduation–she will have more than a year of college under her belt by June, all of it pretty much aced. And she has talked her mother into reading a LOT more and sometimes leaving reviews. She is pushing her mom to finish her RN training, as well. Is that an awesome young lady, or what?! She also is pushing me to write my book on tutoring…
Look at you! There’s no doubt that we need to be good at accepting help as much as we are at giving it. Sounds like karma took care of you. Thanks for sharing. Write that book! I mean it, write that book!
And I’ll be putting together a beta reader group for Red Mountain Rising. Look out for an email if you’re interested. Talk to you later, Corine!
I was at the oldest barbershop in St. Pete last month, and two men were waiting behind me. I whispered to the barber that I’d like to pay for the two gents, slipped him the cash, and snuck out before they knew what had happened. I still glow when I think about how it made them feel… or at least how I hope it made them feel. Maybe their day got a little bit better. They say you know you’re in a healthy spot when you’re able to think outside of yourself and notice those around you. That day was a healthy day.
I talked our family into giving to Heifer International this year for Christmas. We collected $970.00 between all 10 of us. No gifts for each other. We all have too much stuff.
Love it! And very impressive you got everyone on board. That’s a big family.
Yes. A few weeks before Christmas, my house flooded. A pipe was blocked in the main line which caused a backup in my house. Needless to say, I was in shock, sad and pretty freaked out….
Following day I had committed to attend 2 different brunch celebrations. One with a white elephant gift exchange. I should have stayed home. My house was a disaster, Christmas presents thrown everywhere in haste, but I went. A gift I fell in love with…was taken during the exchange. Boo, I was so sad over this, this silly little gift, I could have cried, and cried and cried some more.
A few days went by, I got a message from that gal that stole my gift..lol! “look on your back porch”
There was a beautiful gift bag…Inside, that silly little present I fell in love with, a really nice bottle of red, and this lovely card..reminding me to smile thru the hard times, that I am strong independent woman, and can handle this crisis, and most of all, that I have friends that love and care. I opened the wine that evening, poured it in that “little gift”, woke up the next morning with a smile counting my blessings.
How lovely. Thank you for sharing. She must be a good person. Very inspiring.