I'm going to actually share the very last thing, and the one before it. I hope to read responses from some of the compassionate people in our community. It may inspire a gifting community, like https://buynothingproject.org/
I hired a man to come to my house and wash/wax my car, since I’m no longer able to do it, and drive-thru washes don’t get it clean. I wanted it waxed in preparation for fall weather.
I learned that he has a high interest in promoting bamboo. I was impressed by his website: www.bambooisgrass.com He’s traveled all over Asia, talking with potential investors for this up and coming lucrative and “good for the planet” market. Check out the site, and learn about how bamboo can save the earth. I'd love to see bamboo and cannabis team up!
Besides that, I found him to be a very interesting guy, about 71, bio-scientist, Berkeley graduate, liberal and a genuinely nice guy. I asked if he smoked pot, and he said “sure”. I figured a “Berkeley liberal” had to.
So, I gave him a nugget that someone had given me, and I’d been holding on to for the right person. He had a big smile when I handed it to him.
When I asked how much I owed him, he said “Oh, I don’t really want to charge you.” He did an outstanding job on my 2005 Prius which was given to me, with damaged bumpers, driven by a man in his 80’s who was getting dementia.
I said “No, you earned this, and I’m thrilled with the result.” He didn’t just wash and wax the car, he detailed it, cleaning all the tree debris that had fallen into cracks of the hood. I gave him $60, and made a new friend.
Does this count for a good deed? I will also be promoting his bamboo cause, which is beyond giving him money.
The previous good deed I did for a WaccoBB stranger was that I was curious enough to go beyond the title of her post in the sale/free/wanted section, which was "My Books". How many other people did that? Probably not many. I'm weird that way; the unknown always beckons me.
Anyway, I went to her Amazon page, and see that she's written quite a number of books, with Kentucky in the title, of which I have no interest, so I was drawn to the title I resonated with, which was "The Wound That Never Heals- The Reality of Trauma, written by Jo Spencer. It seems that many people I've met in my life have been traumatized by their family of origin, and/or substitute family such as foster parents. I ordered the book, and when I finished reading it, I knew I had to share the value that I found in it.
After sharing my Amazon review on various social sites, I received several thank you's, and Jo said it was the first time her "infant self, felt heard". What an acknowledgment! What a priceless gift I gave to her.
I've always felt that being "heard" can make a profound difference in our lives. Twenty-five years ago, I met a young mentally ill man who always wore headphones with music blasting in his ears, to shut out the unwanted noise from the world.
He sat down at my table where I was selling some health equipment, and started talking. I listened, while looking into his eyes. He told me, among other things that he was Bi-Polar, and 22. Then he took off his headphones, and said "You're REALLY listening!!" After that, we continued to hang out, and he stopped wearing his headphones all the time.
Who have you REALLY listened to lately ?
What was the last good deed you did for a stranger?