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captainsblogThis week, more than most, has filled my reads with both horrific news and a general perception among friends that the news is horrific. So what better way to combat that trend than by rejoicing in every little effort to reverse it- a person at a time?
Today brought at least three such stories. Two I will share verbatim; the middle one will require a little setup.
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Story the First comes from a longtime friend who lives and works north of Boston. We went to school together from kindergarten through senior year, then reconnected through hometown groups a few years ago; we've met up a couple of times in recent years, once just me and her, the other with her bringing her lovely wife of many years (legally for many, thanks to Massachusetts:). Her post this morning read thusly:
Though I can hardly read the paper these days for all the sad and depraved acts, today I walked the beach with my dog, Kasha, and saw about 30 people meticulously picking up trash from the beach. I spoke to one woman to thank her, and she told me they come once a month, for an hour and pick up as much as they can. They had bags full of cigarette butts, fishing nets, plastic bottles etc. There are people who try to make the world a better place and they don't brag, and do it to be newsworthy, they do it because it's the right thing to do. They are an inspiration!
I replied that it reminded me of the starfish on the beach story- how making a little bit of difference in the universe can be life-changingly important to the one life at a time you touch. It's also significant, I think, that the friend who told this story is named Hope:)
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Sadly, I've never met Patti, known occasionally around here as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
oneeyeddaruma. We came closest about a month ago, the day that events in Eleanor's life intervened. But she still inspires with her stories, her music, and, today, her random act of kindness.
She found somebody's iPhone. It was locked, so she couldn't track the owner by merely possessing it. So she went above and beyond what even many Good People would have done under the circumstances. She was ready to head to the Apple Store to put their geniuses on the case. Then, the husband of the owner called the phone, enabling its return. Within two hours of that call, Patti had packed it up, taken it to the post office and sent it on its way. I'm not going to post the picture of the package on account of potential identifying info, but I will post the other picture she put up right before that:
----
Finally, I read this post, from one of my fellow Met bloggers. Taryn's the friend who got stuck in Buffalo at ass o'clock on a Saturday waiting for a non-existent Megabus to take her to a Mets-Jays game in Toronto, and who I met and wound up taking because, #letsgomets. I knew a little about her recent history (a lot of it from that drive together), but after the week we've had, it was a joy to read her putting it all in perspective:
Over four years ago, I lost my job. A job that I had left a lucrative Wall Street career for, a job I thought would be my future trajectory to make me into the successful career person I wanted to be.
Three years ago, another job contract ended, and I haven't had a full time "traditional" job since.
I have two degrees (including a masters). I have over ten years of financial services under my belt. In this economy, I learned that age and experience do, indeed, work against you.
In the meantime, I started a home based business. I also work two part time jobs, and do freelance work. Luckily, for me, it pays my bills (I'm also fortunate because my husband works and that brings us great insurance too).
I know I have it better than some or most, even, but it pains me that I've found some people I know who are up against some bad luck in this economy too. It's not easy. All I can say is what's worked for me is thinking outside of the box, and talking to people. If I didn't talk to people, I'd have never started a home based business. If I didn't pursue what I loved, I'd be sitting home, miserable. But I'm close to happy. That's what I wanted.
Hang in there, folks.
That we shall, mdear. And will we give up on those around us who both see the good in life and do it? NEVER....AGAIN.
Today brought at least three such stories. Two I will share verbatim; the middle one will require a little setup.
----
Story the First comes from a longtime friend who lives and works north of Boston. We went to school together from kindergarten through senior year, then reconnected through hometown groups a few years ago; we've met up a couple of times in recent years, once just me and her, the other with her bringing her lovely wife of many years (legally for many, thanks to Massachusetts:). Her post this morning read thusly:
Though I can hardly read the paper these days for all the sad and depraved acts, today I walked the beach with my dog, Kasha, and saw about 30 people meticulously picking up trash from the beach. I spoke to one woman to thank her, and she told me they come once a month, for an hour and pick up as much as they can. They had bags full of cigarette butts, fishing nets, plastic bottles etc. There are people who try to make the world a better place and they don't brag, and do it to be newsworthy, they do it because it's the right thing to do. They are an inspiration!
I replied that it reminded me of the starfish on the beach story- how making a little bit of difference in the universe can be life-changingly important to the one life at a time you touch. It's also significant, I think, that the friend who told this story is named Hope:)
----
Sadly, I've never met Patti, known occasionally around here as
oneeyeddaruma. We came closest about a month ago, the day that events in Eleanor's life intervened. But she still inspires with her stories, her music, and, today, her random act of kindness.She found somebody's iPhone. It was locked, so she couldn't track the owner by merely possessing it. So she went above and beyond what even many Good People would have done under the circumstances. She was ready to head to the Apple Store to put their geniuses on the case. Then, the husband of the owner called the phone, enabling its return. Within two hours of that call, Patti had packed it up, taken it to the post office and sent it on its way. I'm not going to post the picture of the package on account of potential identifying info, but I will post the other picture she put up right before that:
----
Finally, I read this post, from one of my fellow Met bloggers. Taryn's the friend who got stuck in Buffalo at ass o'clock on a Saturday waiting for a non-existent Megabus to take her to a Mets-Jays game in Toronto, and who I met and wound up taking because, #letsgomets. I knew a little about her recent history (a lot of it from that drive together), but after the week we've had, it was a joy to read her putting it all in perspective:
Over four years ago, I lost my job. A job that I had left a lucrative Wall Street career for, a job I thought would be my future trajectory to make me into the successful career person I wanted to be.
Three years ago, another job contract ended, and I haven't had a full time "traditional" job since.
I have two degrees (including a masters). I have over ten years of financial services under my belt. In this economy, I learned that age and experience do, indeed, work against you.
In the meantime, I started a home based business. I also work two part time jobs, and do freelance work. Luckily, for me, it pays my bills (I'm also fortunate because my husband works and that brings us great insurance too).
I know I have it better than some or most, even, but it pains me that I've found some people I know who are up against some bad luck in this economy too. It's not easy. All I can say is what's worked for me is thinking outside of the box, and talking to people. If I didn't talk to people, I'd have never started a home based business. If I didn't pursue what I loved, I'd be sitting home, miserable. But I'm close to happy. That's what I wanted.
Hang in there, folks.
That we shall, mdear. And will we give up on those around us who both see the good in life and do it? NEVER....AGAIN.
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no subject
Date: 2014-08-16 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-08-17 01:24 am (UTC)Hope everything is okay with you.