enjoy the ride
Sufficient Life
I occasionally wish for someone to give me a hand but expect it? No- The world is not obligated to me. If I do something for a neighbor, I do it because it makes me feel better about myself and living up to my own standards.
If something is "given" with the expectation of a return, then it isn't a gift, it is a sale. And if a person has expectations that he will receive the exact measure of kindness he expended, then he will constantly be judging everyone and feeling the world owes him more. He will never be happy.
Sometimes, though, you will get a nice surprise. I was at Costco, buying 4 40 lbs sacks of dog food yesterday. They are just at the edge of my ability to lift and get into the cart. As I was getting ready to do my first "heave ho" a man who was walking by asked if I could use a hand and proceeded to load all 4 into my cart. Of course I thanked him profusely but he did it because he is who he is, not because I am who I am.
Now there are people who are serious takers- sort of life vacuum cleaners. Those people I have no problems only doing what I feel I can reasonably do. But on the whole, warmth of giving is the reward. If I had to determine who was worthy of my attention, I would have to spend too much time looking for the bad in people. That would really be a drag.
If something is "given" with the expectation of a return, then it isn't a gift, it is a sale. And if a person has expectations that he will receive the exact measure of kindness he expended, then he will constantly be judging everyone and feeling the world owes him more. He will never be happy.
Sometimes, though, you will get a nice surprise. I was at Costco, buying 4 40 lbs sacks of dog food yesterday. They are just at the edge of my ability to lift and get into the cart. As I was getting ready to do my first "heave ho" a man who was walking by asked if I could use a hand and proceeded to load all 4 into my cart. Of course I thanked him profusely but he did it because he is who he is, not because I am who I am.
Now there are people who are serious takers- sort of life vacuum cleaners. Those people I have no problems only doing what I feel I can reasonably do. But on the whole, warmth of giving is the reward. If I had to determine who was worthy of my attention, I would have to spend too much time looking for the bad in people. That would really be a drag.