I loved this. One great example to me is my Uncle John. He always told me (and more important showed me) "Help anyone you can, anytime you can -and someone will always be there to help you." Just thinking of him makes me feel elated and an expansion in my chest, he makes me want to be a better person and gives me greater confidence in the goodness of others.
As I read this, I could feel the “helper’s high” because I have experienced that so many times in my own life. Whether it’s witnessing the kind act or preforming it myself, my eyes well, my breathing deepens, my chest expands and I feel so full of love, gratitude and connection. It’s the best feeling in the world. And so easy to make happen. Spreading love is pure revolutionary magic.
I recently experienced this. About a week or two ago I was walking down a street and in the distance I saw workers on a roof. I was really focusing on them and simultaneously questioning internally “Why am I fixating on them so strongly? They are simply workers on a roof.”
As I got closer the weather was greying and getting cloudier and a wind picked up. As I walked by the house of the workers on the roof one whistled and yelled to get attention. I immediately stopped and acknowledged without any resistance.
“The wind blew our ladder down. Can you walk back here and save us?”
I flew into action without any hesitation.
The beauty of this moment of salvation came in the form of each of us saving the other because once I got around to the back I realized I had to scale a ladder and a roof (something I had feared in life prior - vertigo, heights, lack of balance) to get to the ladder and level they were at.
Again, once I realized what I had to do I didn’t overthink. Just did.
The lead worker was profusely vocal in their gratitude the whole time and saying “coffee on us.”
I was expressing my glee in their safety.
Once I got to the tilted first roof the man was keenly observant to this being a new weebly wobbly adventure for myself despite my confidence that all parties will get down safely.
He said, “Don’t worry. I’ll guide you.”
In short, we each succeeded in getting each other back down safely.
The sense of elation and purpose that day went beyond anything o had ever experienced before. The teamwork in realizing to get one of us to safety we had to guide us all through the act of kindness together as one.
Every day I am choosing to create and imagine more moments of elation and purpose like this.
Thank you, Pegeen, for maintaining focus on importing a plethora of elevating reads here. The amount of supportive texts in ReadUp from UpLift to Ava and more; from the imaginative to the bracingly, soberingly real aid in life navigation in profound ways. Been traveling through a messy, embarrassing, vulnerable internal phase recently and all these texts are lights guiding me/us home.
Also, I admire owls. 😜 hoot, hoot. I Imagine I have a Snow White one with rainbow feathers guiding my internal faerie tale landscape named, Lovingly...Scales. She represents a Balancing and Centering of Scales of Justice, Magic, Love and on and on....
I totally agree. As much as it feels good to help someone else, when I see that happen in NYC I’m just transported. Thanking our healthcare workers during the pandemic felt like that.
I loved this. One great example to me is my Uncle John. He always told me (and more important showed me) "Help anyone you can, anytime you can -and someone will always be there to help you." Just thinking of him makes me feel elated and an expansion in my chest, he makes me want to be a better person and gives me greater confidence in the goodness of others.
As I read this, I could feel the “helper’s high” because I have experienced that so many times in my own life. Whether it’s witnessing the kind act or preforming it myself, my eyes well, my breathing deepens, my chest expands and I feel so full of love, gratitude and connection. It’s the best feeling in the world. And so easy to make happen. Spreading love is pure revolutionary magic.
Exactly! My friend described it as 'an extraordinary rush of well being'. Spot on.
I recently experienced this. About a week or two ago I was walking down a street and in the distance I saw workers on a roof. I was really focusing on them and simultaneously questioning internally “Why am I fixating on them so strongly? They are simply workers on a roof.”
As I got closer the weather was greying and getting cloudier and a wind picked up. As I walked by the house of the workers on the roof one whistled and yelled to get attention. I immediately stopped and acknowledged without any resistance.
“The wind blew our ladder down. Can you walk back here and save us?”
I flew into action without any hesitation.
The beauty of this moment of salvation came in the form of each of us saving the other because once I got around to the back I realized I had to scale a ladder and a roof (something I had feared in life prior - vertigo, heights, lack of balance) to get to the ladder and level they were at.
Again, once I realized what I had to do I didn’t overthink. Just did.
The lead worker was profusely vocal in their gratitude the whole time and saying “coffee on us.”
I was expressing my glee in their safety.
Once I got to the tilted first roof the man was keenly observant to this being a new weebly wobbly adventure for myself despite my confidence that all parties will get down safely.
He said, “Don’t worry. I’ll guide you.”
In short, we each succeeded in getting each other back down safely.
The sense of elation and purpose that day went beyond anything o had ever experienced before. The teamwork in realizing to get one of us to safety we had to guide us all through the act of kindness together as one.
Every day I am choosing to create and imagine more moments of elation and purpose like this.
queues Something Just Like This by Coldplay
went beyond anything I
And you just made me happy by sharing this beautiful story. Thank you. And thank you ReadUp
Amen!
Dellwood, I am elated reading this - what a hoot you are!!! LOVE it!!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Thank you, Pegeen, for maintaining focus on importing a plethora of elevating reads here. The amount of supportive texts in ReadUp from UpLift to Ava and more; from the imaginative to the bracingly, soberingly real aid in life navigation in profound ways. Been traveling through a messy, embarrassing, vulnerable internal phase recently and all these texts are lights guiding me/us home.
Also, I admire owls. 😜 hoot, hoot. I Imagine I have a Snow White one with rainbow feathers guiding my internal faerie tale landscape named, Lovingly...Scales. She represents a Balancing and Centering of Scales of Justice, Magic, Love and on and on....
💗🌈
A great reminder of the ripple effect that any single act of kindness can have. The guy who bought the birds just to set them free is a legend.
I totally agree. As much as it feels good to help someone else, when I see that happen in NYC I’m just transported. Thanking our healthcare workers during the pandemic felt like that.