Friday, September 13, 2013

How the Gift of a Quarter Changed my Life

Someone Gifting a Quarter
A friend of mine, Create with Joy does a weekly meme. This week’s theme is “Share Something Good“. 

Seeing as she is always supportive of my weekly BlogLovin Hop, I thought that I’d participate.

Except, I couldn’t.

Well, I could but what would I have to write about?

• About how I spent two hours brushing Aries?
• About the clothes that I have packed to take to House of Lazarus?
• About that cup of coffee that I made Uncle Eric this week?

While they’re good deeds, they aren’t exactly world shaping events.

Then I thought, I should have a shower.

Not because I’m smelly but because, truth be told, I do some of my best thinking in the shower. But then I realized that I’d already showered this week.

And then, a thought came to me.

I almost didn’t remember what it was because I was so excited that,

a) I had a thought outside the shower,
b) that I remembered it and,
c) speaking of remembering…

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

Exactly!

Lost?

If you were going to eat an elephant (which you wouldn’t because they’re so cute), you wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it all at once. Instead, you’d eat it “one bite at a time”. At least that’s the analogy that I use with The Kids.

Which got me to thinking that maybe doing something good doesn’t have to mean “changing the world”. If you add up every quarter, eventually, you’ll have a dollar and then a Laurier and so on.

Speaking of quarters, it reminds me of that time that a woman gave me a quarter.

To be honest, I think about it a lot.

That one quarter has changed my life. Forever. For the better.

And that’s something good.

What Events Have Shaped Your Life?

17 thoughts on “How the Gift of a Quarter Changed my Life

  1. Cathy C

    We have the How Do You Eat An Elephant written on a white board in our kitchen. My Hubby put it there for the kids as they struggled with Math homework. I do think that all the little good deeds add up. Maybe the doer gets more than the receiver. By giving feels good and makes you feel good about yourself a your life, and that is truly a priceless gift.

    Reply
  2. Rene Beaubien

    Amazing. Agreed, changing the world is the whole of many small parts. Yours and mine, and everyone's. Thanks for sharing this! Love the weekly theme idea too, thanks for linking up.

    Reply
  3. Create With Joy

    Welcome to Friendship Friday!

    I'm so sorry for your loss. I chose today's theme because I've been reflecting on losses as well. Both of your posts moved me very much.

    I look forward to building a beautiful friendship with you! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Bismah Abdelgawad

    Sometimes its the little things we do in life that can make the biggest impact!
    Stopping by from the “Bloglovin Hop”. Now following you on Bloglovin, G+, Facebook, Twitter, and Stumbleupon.
    Have a great weekend 🙂
    Bismah @
    Simple Mama

    Reply
  5. Emily Linton

    It’s so true how something little can change someone’s life more than you know! It’s how the whole pay-it-forward thing works! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Marion Scharf

    There are so many things that have helped change my life but one major factor has been my family’s church which has a small parish but everyone is really close. I have made many amazing friends and met some great people that I would never have met otherwise by participating in events with the church.

    Reply
  7. Ashleigh Swerdfeger

    This is such a true sentiment. It takes little deeds to change the world. You never know the future effect of something (for better or worse). The butterfly effect is real in so many ways. For instance, I met my fiance online. I made a flip decision to reply to his message and now are we here. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Annie1

    Thank you for this. I often feel useless to be blunt. Both my husband and I are on disability, so a fixed income with not much to spare. We are, well, I am very isolated and really don’t get out much, so I do what I can do and that is enter giveaways. For three years now, I win everything that I give my daughters, grandkids and other family; but I have enough left over (usually about 4 large boxes) to give to others. We support 3 charities here in Victoria, The Single Parent Center, The Victoria Immigrant Society and PEERS (an organization for sex trade workers) We manage to give all of these people so many things and everyone is so grateful. Its actually a very selfish thing that we do, because it gives us so much joy. Right now about half of our bedroom is full of things we are giving away this year! lol Thanks for this post!

    Rafflecopter Name is Anne Taylor

    Reply
    1. Sarah Post author

      Dear Anne,

      I truly believe that it is not the gift that counts but the thought. Some people will say that you can’t eat a thought but you can’t eat a gift sometimes either.

      You remind me of my neighbour in Mexico. Not by what you don’t have but by what you do have (http://www.journeysofthezoo.com/2013/02/humbled-by-those-that-have-less.html).

      You are making a difference one person at a time. And you can count me as one of those people.

      Besos, Sarah
      Sarah recently posted…What We Did for 4 Months While Travelling in MexicoMy Profile

      Reply
  9. scott macmillan

    I was hit with cancer over 12 years ago and after five years they said I beat it.But I was worn out physically and mentally.Cancer Connections in Canada asked if I would consider being a volunteer with them and speak to others by phone who had the same cancer and help them deal with the little details only another with cancer would be aware of.Little tricks and means of making things easier and keeping a positive attitude.In a few months after talking by phone to folks in every region of the Country I felt reborn with a new sense of purpose.Any feelings of bitterness or why did it happen to me vanished.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Post author

      Dear Scott,

      Your words resonate with me. More so TODAY than any day before and I hope for many days to come. I have written many chapters since the death of my son and I feel like I started another one today.

      How kind of you to give back to others. No one knows the sacrifices you have made to be there for others but I’m willing to bet that the people you share your story with and/or listen to value your time as much as life itself.

      The world needs more of you.

      Besos, Sarah
      Sarah recently posted…Free Advice is Worth What You Paid For It… NothingMy Profile

      Reply

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