Stop hurting others!

I understand that not everybody can or wants to help others. Do nice things for them, love or support them. Show compassion, consideration, respect. Ok, I get it. 

But one thing everyone can do is NOT hurt others. 

Help Others

Guest blog post by John Economou

“Help others”. This was one of the two pieces of advice that Lattie  F. Coor gave to me and to the rest of the graduates on Dec 13th, 2001 during the Commencement Ceremony at A.S.U. It sounded like the kind of wake up call I needed.

Just like most of you I assume, I've received help from others quite often. While growing up,  whether it was at camp, through playing sports, while in college or at work. Pretty much all the time, now that I think about it. I admit it, it feels good to know 'people have your back'. 

So, there comes a time when you realize that it is your turn to “help others”. Not because you “have to”, but because you want to. Because you know that even doing a small favor for someone else, just might mean the world to him/her. Just like it meant a lot to you when others helped you.

Ιf you acknowledge that people helped you so far in your life, maybe now it is your time to “give back” and start helping others.

The Paradoxical Commandments

by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World

Compassion

The best lesson I could have taught my nieces today: 

                            Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. 
                                                                                          Dalai Lama

How far are you willing to go?

Today I drove 180 km for work. Viewed purely from a business perspective, the hard fact is that I shouldn’t have done that; it wasn’t “good business”.

On my way back home I was smiling, tired but happy: I have taken the first step towards a vision of mine. All it cost me was challenging and abandoning any idea of what should and should not be done. And driving 180 km.

This is a Thai commercial that has gone viral and I believe perfectly relates to this message. The Hero performs his glorious tasks for what he desires most: a world made more beautiful.

When it comes to your vision, when it comes to your goals, dreams and desires, how far are you willing to go? What is the first step that you will take, the seed that you can sow? 

Delays Worth Having

Driving in a super hurry to be on time for a business meeting (my work requires me to be always on time), I saw a car immobilized outside my favorite bakery. I definitely had no time to stop, not even one minute to spare. It was the first meeting with these clients and you know what they say about first impressions…

Well, I did not hesitate one moment about what I should do: I stopped my car and went to see what happened to the other driver. It was a mother with her two daughters and they all seemed a little embarrassed. The mother had miscalculated the gasoline and had run out of gas. I left her with her daughters and within a few minutes I had help for her and the car.

Soon the mother was able to drive again with her daughters.

I thought I had solved the problem, but had I? We live at a time where it is not unlikely that parents have to choose between putting gas in their car or buying bread for their children. 

I had no idea why the bakery shop employees – where I asked for help – were thanking me so much. Hadn't I done what anyone would do?

Leaving I noticed that at least 8 people were around that could have helped and had done nothing.

Reality check: I am still human.

I arrived at my meeting late. And I have never been proudest of my delay.