Give something to a stranger..

Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Ok I have decided to give away things that I could probably sell, but the feeling of giving and not selling is amazing. I hope everyone can give something away for a change to a stranger and expect nothing in return except gratitude. Try please ;)
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
And for benefits sake I get this.

Hey Scott I'd love to buy a copy of that picture of the Milky Way at the lost city!! I go away Friday so it would be after Christmas,so if u have other copy's that would be great. I saw what u did with ur pictures for those ppl too ur a good bloke
 
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Krs_2007

Senior Member
My sons baseball team adopted a family, single mom with 5 kids. She sent over her kids Christmas list and we all took a child or the mother and purchased what was on their list. We picked the 2 year old little girl. My wife did most of the shopping because of clothes and such that she wanted. Well it had kind of slipped my mind till last night and she reminded me to go get the bike. I will admit that I got emotional buying her a bike, even put on the Dad hat and added a helmet that wasn't on the list. I want her to be safe. Anyway not singing my praise, but just wanted to say that it is a great feeling.

I give to a lot of charities each year, never see the receiver in person so this is a new experience for us and something our kids were a part of. We get to take the gifts to the Mother on Sunday and I am sure I will cry again.

I have been very blessed and always a giving person and this is something we talk about and finally acted on it. I will tell you that if you can afford something, then remember those that are not as blessed as us this Holiday season. There are food banks, Salvation Army in the US, adopt a family trees, usually Churches are doing this as well. Find one and I promise it will change you.

I only wish I could be there on Christmas morning to take pictures, I couldn't imagine waking up to no gifts on Christmas morning. I know this is not what its about, but for kids Santa Clause not coming is a huge thing.

Please remember to be kind, give what you can. Take a look at the person that is next to you at the gas pump, grocery store or whatever, if they look like they are struggling then offer some cash or to even pay for them.

There are always places looking for gently used coats, clothes, gloves and such.

I try to teach my kids to pay it forward and dont expect anything in return. We have everything we should.

Sorry if I took away from your intent.
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Krs_2007 said:
My sons baseball team adopted a family, single mom with 5 kids. She sent over her kids Christmas list and we all took a child or the mother and purchased what was on their list. We picked the 2 year old little girl. My wife did most of the shopping because of clothes and such that she wanted. Well it had kind of slipped my mind till last night and she reminded me to go get the bike. I will admit that I got emotional buying her a bike, even put on the Dad hat and added a helmet that wasn't on the list. I want her to be safe. Anyway not singing my praise, but just wanted to say that it is a great feeling.

I give to a lot of charities each year, never see the receiver in person so this is a new experience for us and something our kids were a part of. We get to take the gifts to the Mother on Sunday and I am sure I will cry again.

I have been very blessed and always a giving person and this is something we talk about and finally acted on it. I will tell you that if you can afford something, then remember those that are not as blessed as us this Holiday season. There are food banks, Salvation Army in the US, adopt a family trees, usually Churches are doing this as well. Find one and I promise it will change you.

I only wish I could be there on Christmas morning to take pictures, I couldn't imagine waking up to no gifts on Christmas morning. I know this is not what its about, but for kids Santa Clause not coming is a huge thing.

Please remember to be kind, give what you can. Take a look at the person that is next to you at the gas pump, grocery store or whatever, if they look like they are struggling then offer some cash or to even pay for them.

There are always places looking for gently used coats, clothes, gloves and such.

I try to teach my kids to pay it forward and dont expect anything in return. We have everything we should.

Sorry if I took away from your intent.
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Nope never took away from my intent as this is my intent and trying to pay forwards that what we take for granted others have never seen. Cheers Kevin.
 
AC016

AC016

Senior Member
I was just given a bottle of Champagne. I don't really drink, so this is what i will be giving to a stranger tonight. Gave all my change to the firefighters who were raising money for a food bank last night. I got nothing left except the shirt on my back and a smile.
 
P

Pretzel

Senior Member
AC016 said:
I was just given a bottle of Champagne. I don't really drink, so this is what i will be giving to a stranger tonight. Gave all my change to the firefighters who were raising money for a food bank last night. I got nothing left except the shirt on my back and a smile.
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PLEASE, keep your shirt on so we all can continue smiling. ;)

Good challenge, Scott. I'm watching for that "well used" car behind me in the drive-thrus this week, and once I spot the one or two that look like they could use a little assistance, I'm going to buy their dinner. Hopefully, if they don't really need it, they'll pass it on to the car behind them.
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
AC016 said:
I was just given a bottle of Champagne. I don't really drink, so this is what i will be giving to a stranger tonight. Gave all my change to the firefighters who were raising money for a food bank last night. I got nothing left except the shirt on my back and a smile.
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How old are you??? You are never to old to be a volunteer fire fighter ;)
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
AC016 said:
I don't understand the relevance of my age to what i posted. Anyhow, i would have to go a long ways from home to be a volunteer firefighter.
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Well giving all your change to the firefighters and being a volunteer are two big differences, it was just a dig at you giving all your change and me saying there is more left... Yeah sorry I a quite blunt. Giving away free time can and does make the difference. As to your question regarding whats your age have to do with it, thats a saying us Aussies make when we think someone is being slack and not acting their age lol.
 
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Deezey

Senior Member
I do RAOK all the time. One of the best feelings in the world. Making someone's day just by giving away something I am not using....its very fulfilling.

Btw. RAOK is Random Act of Kindness.....
 
AC016

AC016

Senior Member
Scott Murray said:
Well giving all your change to the firefighters and being a volunteer are two big differences, it was just a dig at you giving all your change and me saying there is more left... Yeah sorry I a quite blunt. Giving away free time can and does make the difference. As to your question regarding whats your age have to do with it, thats a saying us Aussies make when we think someone is being slack and not acting their age lol.
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Okay. If you are a volunteer firefighter, then thanks for your service. As i said, i would have to drive a hell of ways to be a volunteer firefighter. In Montreal, they are all paid/full-time men & women. A very noble job either way :)
 
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Vincent

Senior Member
Scott Murray said:
... me saying there is more left... Yeah sorry I a quite blunt.
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I wrote in an other thread that I was reading Atlas Shrugged.

From that book I got that if you want to give that is OK, you`ll feel even better if it is deserved by the other person.
Where the book is really against is to give in when others demand without earning it.

Now psychologically (read up on Emotional Intelligence) giving does give you a feeling of accomplishment and is good for you.

So to go on the examples here:
- if you believe that fire-fighters are helpful (difficult to think otherwise) it is good to support them, the way you see fit!
- the little girl obviously has done nothing wrong and if people want to help her, great. Best would be also to educate where things come from, how work leads to economic result and is essential to be able to have something.
- if you have something you do not use and you want to give it, OK to do this, it will make you feel better

My example, we got a lot of free candy in a store for St Nicolas, some we do not eat since it is not to our taste. So I gave it to my colleagues.
 
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Englischdude

Senior Member
here in austria we have a "santa initiative". i apply to the social services and tell them how many christmas letters I want and in what approximate value. they collect the letters to santa sent from children from socially challenged families and distribute them to volunteers who would be willing to fulfil the christmas wish of some children by sourcing the presents. I never meet the children in person but bring the wrapped presents clearly marked with the reference number on the letter I receive back to the social services. they then bring the kids their presents on christmas day.
In addition to the presents on the list, each one of my two daughters donates one of their toys.
 
B

Blade Canyon

Senior Member
Vincent said:
I wrote in an other thread that I was reading Atlas Shrugged.

From that book I got that if you want to give that is OK, you`ll feel even better if it is deserved by the other person.
Where the book is really against is to give in when others demand without earning it.
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Rand's argument is to imagine two people in front of you. The first one is hungry and wants help. The second one is hungry and wants help, and says if you help me I will trade you this item or service you want that I made with my labor. So which hungry person is more deserving of your money? The one that did nothing, or the one that's trying to create value for it? A hungry person on the corner is begging for your money so he can eat, but every item you see on the store shelves is basically somebody else who is begging for your money so he can eat, too.

That's why it bugs me when people complain that Dr. Dre "wasted" $50 million on a yacht. The money did not go down a hole; it was paid to many workers, technicians, and suppliers who expended a great deal of effort to create value. Those people and their families got to pay for their own food and shelter.

All that said, it's great what you are doing, Scott. You are setting a good example that it's important to remember others and the simple things that we can all do to add value to other people's lives. The Salvation Army kettle will get a much bigger donation from me tonight when I do the grocery shopping.
 
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