A Few Good People

I was talking to a young man this afternoon about doing a job for my wife and me. He is probably the hardest working person I’ve ever been around – smart, caring, and just a nice young man. He did an exceptional job for us six years ago and, at that time, I’d intended to give him a fairly large tip, but he left and I did not catch up with him again until today.

So I handed him some cash and said, “You know, I meant to give this to you six years ago, but didn’t know how to find you.” He looked at me, smiled and said, “There are still good people in the world.”

What do we do that separates us from the crowd so that others think we are better than most? I am sure we all do this at some point, but do we do it by accident or is it intentional? Do we think about other people and act with kindness and generosity, consistently, in a way that really makes us stand out?

Just think what our world would be like if we put other’s needs, hopes and dreams in front of our own every day. I believe if every US citizen was kinder and more generous, our communities, schools, churches and country would be better, not by a little but by a tremendous amount. We would be better, stronger, and happier.

I think we can all agree that this is true. If so, why don’t I see this more often in the people around me? Is it because we are too busy? Is it because we don’t care? Is it because we don’t know how? Or is it much like other good habits that we should be practicing, such as eating healthier and exercising, that we find too hard to do regularly? I think maybe that’s it, we just don’t practice being exceptional to other people. 

It is easy to give to our spouse, our kids, and family, but we don’t consistently practice giving to others. When I speak of giving, it’s not necessarily about giving money. We can give more effort, a smile, or even a moment of our time to listen with a caring ear. We, as Americans who are always so busy, have lost our giving skills and the only way to get them back is to practice.

So, how can you make people stop and think, “There are a few good people in the world!”  Be intentional everyday about giving, and remember this is not about money. This is about caring. Let’s all help the world be better today!