RE: [Harp-L] Re: Jason Ricci's heart

["Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

You must have seen the movie "Pay it Forward", it's all about this
concept. Or you're just a heck of a nice guy. I always did the same,
especially when my kids were present. Now they're nice people too.

Bill Hines
Hershey, PA

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Garry Hodgson
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 8:45 PM
To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Jason Ricci's heart

Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Perhaps you should take your opportunity to recipricate on another 
> occasion when a better opportunity arises.

the nice thing about a good deed is that you don't need to reciprocate,
at least not directly...

many years ago, i was walking down the street and encountered a stranded
motorist.  his muffler was dragging on the ground; he and his wife were
in formal wear, staring hopelessly at it.  i went home and got some wire
and wired the thing up so they could get home (had lots of experience
from 
my own junker cars).  when he tried to pay me, i refused.  i told him,
"someday when you see someone in trouble, stop and help them out, 
and then we'll be even".  it felt *good*.

since then, i've made a habit of stopping to help whenever i can.  i
always end with my little speech, and tell them to pass the obligation
to the next 
person.  i like to think that in some tiny way it makes the world a
little better.

the last time this happened was last year.  i helped a guy push his car
out of a muddy ditch.  when i told him to help someone else, he said, "i
do that, every chance i get".  i said, "well, i guess i'm your reward."
we both left happy, albeit muddy.

> My biggest pet peeve with news and lists today is, when someone has an

> axe to grind, they tell the world -- but their compliments and the 
> good news often remains unheard and unpublicized.

indeed.  if you're willing to complain, you should be just as willing to
commend.

as for harp content: jason once told me that the reason he likes to help

people learn harp is that so many people helped him along the way, and 
he feels like he should give some back.

----
Garry Hodgson, Technical Consultant, AT&T Labs

do for others with no desire of return.
we should all plant some trees
we will never sit under.