Simple acts of kindness can change a person’s life. It may seem insignificant to the person showing the kindness, but it probably means the world to the one on the receiving end. In “Always Go to the Funeral” by Deirdre Sullivan, this woman tells of how her father made her go to one of her former teachers funerals. She goes onto talk about how the parents of her deceased teacher always smiled and became teary-eyed when they saw her after the funeral. What seems small and inconvenient to one person may make a world of a difference in another’s life.
Someone else can do that though. You don’t need to take the time out of your busy day to go be nice to other people. After all, you have enough problems of your own, right? The other person might not even notice. This is a small gesture any way, it will probably go unnoticed. People rarely do small favors for you, so why should you do things for them? It is inconvenient, takes up to much time, and someone else will probably do it instead.
Or, you could make the person’s day. Small favors, big favors, anything. Help someone out, be a shoulder to cry on. You might need it one day, as Ms. Sullivan did, and would you rather look around and see no one because “someone else will probably do it” or “it will probably go unnoticed”, or would you rather be surrounded by people you helped in their time of need, because they remembered that you were there for them, now they want to be there for you? Help out, be there. You might need the same thing one day.
http://thisibelieve.org/essay/8/
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Believe it or not, Mr. Nichols actually has a point when he says that one smile can make someone's day. Anyone can be having an awful day when just one random person is polite or smiles it can make you feel better. Just the fact that people care and that there are others out there who are actually having a GOOD day can give someone hope or happiness.
ReplyDeleteThere was a non-fictional story I once read about a boy who was suicidal. He was walking home after school, carrying all of his books with him when they all few out of his arms and were strewn around him. Another kid saw this and helped him pick up his books. The kid then invited the boy to his house for a snack and they ending up becoming god friends. Years later, the once suicidal boy tells his friend that he was carrying all of his books home because he planned to kill himself. When the other boy helped him, he decided not to commit suicide.
All it takes is one person to change some one's life for the better and Courtney is right, it may be you in need of help or even a simple smile someday.
I agree with all of this. I've been in the position where I had to go to a funeral for someone, and didn't really want to go, but I was glad I went after it was over. A small act of kindness can go a long way, and it feels good to help somebody out when they are having a hard time, and if you reach out to people, then they'll be there for you when you need them.
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