Restoring One's Faith in Humanity

[Redlo Nosrep]

Having lived a long time and being a cynical sort by nature, my natural optimistic nature has been sorely bruised by cumulative events in my life -- and by the current political process -- that make me tend to look on my fellow humans as mostly a source of irritation, inconvenience, incompetence, and utter cluelessness. Nevertheless, I persist in looking at the glass as HALF-FULL, thus my avatar.

If you've read my posts about walking for exercise, you know I do six to eight miles a day, mostly on rural loops. Today, just for the hell of it, I chose a route along a busy roadway that would take me to a store where I needed to pick up a few things anyway. Round trip: nine miles. Weather: overcast, drizzly, temp in the 50's. I wore just a tee shirt and nylon athletic pants with a baseball cap to keep the mist from fuzzing up my glasses.

On the way back, laden like a pack mule with a full backpack and carrying a sack of groceries, too, I headed towards a small mall for a pit stop. A late-model Ford pickup stopped beside me and the senior-citizen driver rolled down his window.

"I saw you walking so fast so many miles ago and am concerned that you need a ride and don't have one. If you'd be uncomfortable accepting one from me, I'd be glad to call you a cab and pay for where you want to go. And I have an extra jacket here for you that you can return to me later because you must be freezing in just a tee shirt."

Awwwww...

After I laughed and said I did this kind of trek all the time for exercise and not to worry, no jackets for me until it gets into the low 40's, I thanked him for stopping and said, "You, sir, are a true gentleman and have restored my faith in humanity today." He smiled and asked once again if I was sure, even offering money if I needed some.

What a nice guy. So, have any of you DU'ers had a similar experience lately?

BTW, I liked this article about the subject:

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-true-stories-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity/

[Lady Freedom Returns]

1. I have seen the darkest and brightest of Humanity.

Since May 22, 2011 I have seen a homeless man give up what food he had to help hungry children after a tornado destroyed all they had. I have also seen well to do, those who had no need to leave their warm homes to help people try to put their lives back in order. I have seen teenagers buy as many $1 hamburgers that they could carry and then walked down the street passing them out to those that had not had one in a long time.
Then, on the other side, I also see kids walking around with things to beat on homeless. I cam close to being one of their victims. I also a guy in a pick-up selling small bottles of water after a disaster for $10 a piece. Another time I saw small kids throwing rocks at an old man and thought it was funny.
For me the jury is out for mankind. Those that do good gets equaled out by those that do harm.

[Suich]

2. Nice story, Redlo Nosrep!

Thanks for posting!

Nice stories at the link, too!

[Redlo Nosrep]

3. You're Welcome

...glad you enjoyed it! I plan to "pay it forward" by being a little more observant in the next few days, in case a situation presents itself where I can brighten someone's day, too.

Speaking of that, I remember an incident from many years ago when I was riding a city bus and smiled at the sad-looking young girl sitting across from me. I complimented her on the pretty sweater she was wearing and asked if it was crocheted or knitted, since it looked handmade. To my surprise, she looked at me a minute in silence and then burst into tears, saying, "Oh, thank you, I thought no one would ever notice all my hard work!"

Sometimes it's the little things that really mean a lot.

[HopeHoops]

4. I read "...look on my fellow humans as mostly a source of irritation,..." as "source of nutrition."

THAT was a quick double-take! And yes, I've had similar experiences. We would always stop for stranded motorists (had a flashing roof light and a CB radio). We helped a lot of people. Our attitude was that one day it would come back to pay us for what we did. In my case, it was after running out of gas in a '68 Galaxie fastback (big, heavy car). I was in the middle of the lane. A bunch of cars swung out and around including an open-top jeep with four very capable young men in it. Shortly later, two old women stopped and between the three of us we got her off into the curb. You never know how help will be disguised.

[blueamy66]

5. great story

I've got one.....last week, my guy ran out of gas on the freeway. Dumb, I know, but it happens.

Anyway, a man drove him to a gas station, they got some gas and then he drove my guy back to the car. My guy tried to pay him for his trouble, but he wouldn't accept a dime.

And guess what? Here in the lovely state of AZ, with our lovely governor and sheriff who hate immigrants.....my guy said that this man didn't speak much English and was def from Mexico or S America....not stating anything about his legal status.....just wanted/needed to mention that.....