We Get By with a Little Help from Our Friends (and Strangers)

Every time we step out into the world, we have an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life--for the good or not.

We choose to compliment someone, or we choose to keep quiet.

We choose to help someone with their groceries, or we choose to hurry on.

I try to keep my eyes out for those people who may need an extra hand, especially those older folks who quietly use the shopping cart as their walker and buy just enough food to get them through the week for themselves and their three cats.

But this time when I was out, it got turned upside down. . . .

I was in my favorite walk-around, linger-about clothing store. I had reached high for a beautiful blazer that my closet possibly needed. I slipped it on over my T-shirt and looked from every angle in the mirror. Not this time.

I stuck it back on the hanger and then proceeded to shove it up--and up--and up. How do they hang so many clothes on one bar? I knew it belonged there, but it was as if the other blazers were saying, "Finally! A little breathing space--there's no room here. Move on!"

I was about to place the blazer much lower with the cream fuzzy sweaters, when one of those stereotypical older folks approached me. By the looks of her, she was at least a generation older than me, if not more. Her lipstick and sensible shoes gave her away.

And then she said, "Can I help with you that?"

I was so shocked, I just nodded and handed it to her. In my head, my mind is spinning. SHE'S helping ME?

She proceeded to delicately opened a space between two hanging blazers, and seamlessly slid in the one I had tried on.

The woman smiled gently and said, "I have higher heels." Maybe her shoes weren't as sensible as I thought.

Her thoughtfulness has stuck with me. It doesn't matter who you are or what you THINK you have to offer. It's all about making the choice to be that person who chooses to do good, no matter how inconsequential it may seem.

What little good can you do today? Or big good? You don't even need sensible shoes.

Let's do this.

(Don't forget to share this with someone who would enjoy it!)