Diary: One small deed can change a life

In this tough time, when most of us in the market have lost huge amounts, business and incomes are uncertain, people are losing jobs, companies closing, it is hard not to lose perspective. It occurred to me as I fell asleep last night, that too much self-focus is not good. I saw a young mother recently ahead of me in the check out line, and she had obviously purchased more than she had money for. She had a small child and they were deciding on what to put back, as the checkout person patiently waited. It was not much, a picture frame, a toy, maybe something for the child to wear and I had the instant thought of telling the clerk to put that on my bill. But I kept quiet. I still see her face-----she was not upset nor angry, she just did not have the money. It would have meant nothing to me, not that we are anything like rich, just at the age where not a lot is needed nor wanted and our market losses are in the thousands, so that $15 or so was not important. Why did I not take action? Probably partly because I did not want to seem nosy or maybe embarrass her, but looking back I wish I had taken that chance. Also, it is like avoiding a wreck----you don’t have a lot of time to make the decision. Maybe you have to act impulsively and there is a built in prejudice about being impulsive. Perhaps that is why I think the next time I will practice being impulsive. All I have to lose is someone’s opinion of me and I hope I do not hold myself that high, so that the fall will not break anything. One small act of kindness might be the thing that could make a difference. It is the story of the horse that lost the shoe, and the rider, and then the war. If we all started acting a little impulsively, perhaps this dark period in time could find a bit of light.