Interesting thoughts on helping strangers and shifting views from self to others. Just when are we more apt to help strangers in our lives? Is it only when everything is going great in our lives? I need to, and perhaps more people need to stop focusing so much on self and lend a hand in other peoples lives even when your life isn't going quite so well.
Sometimes you can't help. Sometimes your in your own pool of quicksand and attempting to help the other guy next to you will only hasten both of your descents. But I don't want to be part of the 'bystander effect' if I can help it. However, if someone needs a hand I would like to be able to help them. Preferably for the right reasons, not selfish reasons. Although being a good Samaritan has it's own rewards. :P
You have to wonder... if there is a person sprawled on the ground and you walk by without helping, will you be on some video footage as a person who didn't stop to help an old lady. I live by the Golden Rule - do onto others as you would have onto you, and let the rest sort it out. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with your actions or the lack thereof. And being a good Samaritan does have it's rewards. Just today, I gave the guy on the corner who sells newspapers a cupcake from a batch I was taking into work - he immediately handed me a paper, and said, "Free". I didn't intend for it to be an exchange, but I got a paper to read at lunchtime. :)
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