CHANGE

I have always believed in the idea of "Paying it Forward". Some one helps you, you help someone else, that someone else continues the chain...

When I was in high school, my close friend and I tried to come up with random ways we could help others anonymously. Later on, I attended a program called Governor's Honors Program. One of the smaller classes I participated in tried to adopt and spread the Pay it Forward idea.

I have never been as inspired as I was, though, when listening to my brother tell the following story (in the story, my brother will be named Craig and his friend will be named Tim):

One cool night, after leaving a meeting down in the city, Craig and Tim were walking to their cars as they were getting ready to go out for the night. As they were doing so, they came across a man asking for change at a payphone. The man introduced himself as Lowe. Craig and Tim are both very sociable people, so they naturally started up a conversation with the man. Lowe seemed very distraught, so Tim cautiously asked if everything was okay. Tim thought that maybe what Lowe really needed was a little more of metaphorical change. Lowe eased into his problems one by one, and soon they were all spilling in front of Craig and Tim, a flood that one person couldn't clean up alone.

Lowe had recently been out of state. He was looking to buy a new house for him and his wife. After searching for awhile, he knew he had found the perfect home. He settled the deal, and immediately came back with a single rose in hand to surprise his wife with the news. Upon his arrival, though, he found his wife cheating on him through the front window. He had been kicked out, and his life was turned upside-down.

Craig and Tim were overwhelmed, and they knew this man needed help. They also knew there were skeptical people out in the world. Was this man really telling the truth? They decided that even if he hadn't been trustworthy, which they had already deemed him, then he still obviously needed a lift back on his feet.

The two boys ended up giving Lowe money for the next few days, and they drove him to find a hotel which he could stay in until he found a new place.

Inspiring.

I wish I could say that everybody were this kind-hearted. That is not the case, though. Had it been a different day, or even a difference of five minutes, it might not have been Craig and Tim who greeted Lowe with such encouragement. It could have been someone who was dangerous, or even someone who just didn't want to spend the time or money helping someone who needed it more.

I hope that everybody who reads this takes something from it. Every single person has the power to make some sort of a difference in the lives of others, whether the difference is large or even small. Anything counts.

And we can all help with a little change.

XoXo,

rubycherrie