Working in Real Estate is a real eye opener. Whomever said it was a people business got that as an "understatement." You get to see the best and the worst in folks during an emotional and trying time in their lives. Being the observer in life in the people business it has sharpened my visual and sensing skills in all areas of my life. I used to think life and people would surprise me "some" of the time. I now think people surprise me "ALL" of the time. On the negative side you will have people lie to you. Some will hold a grudge and not forgive you for an innocent mistake. Whom you thought was a friend will abandon you during tough times. Many surprises around you. Healthy people will fall ill and even die. Very sad. Those who you thought were supposed to love you forever fall out of love. People will tell you one thing and then do another. To all the things that surprise you on the negative side of the ledger which I can't control, I just say, "Isn't that interesting?"
But despite all the disappointment I have seen with people I must firmly admit I have seem many more good surprises. People continually amaze me, inspire me, get me jazzed with the goodness I find in their hearts.
One woman I found doing bear repair. What is that you ask? The young daughter of a Mom had the dog nearly chew off the ear of a stuffed bear and the little one was crying. Mom, jumped into action without a single thought, grabbed some thread and started the repair with a patch, all along assuring the child that the bear would be all right. Amazing!
Another instance before the days of cell phones, my car broke down and I was in the middle of traffic just sitting there stalled out.
Car after car passed me for what seemed like an hour and finally some young twenty year old guy in a beat up car with literally hundreds of soda pop cans in his vehicle asked if I needed a lift to the convenience store to get to a phone to get a tow.
He even offered the 25 cents for the pay phone.
Don't ever believe Good Samaritans still don't exist!!
Finally, I used to volunteer after school hours for these underprivileged elementary school kids at their apartment with a church group. Our job was to get them an afternoon meal of franks and beans and help them with their 2nd grade math and reading. It felt real good to give them a good meal and do the tutoring part.
They got to know our group as their little helpers and we brought little smiles to their day. But like a lot of volunteering you are paid back far and away more from them than what you are giving. One day when I was having a hard day in my own life from other things in the adult world before I left the children at the end, one little girl ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug and said, "Thanks, Mr. Gary." It gives you hope in the world that things are still all ok.
So when you see all those negative surprises with people in your life, remember there are many good ones out there as well.
It does seem like we can change the world, one single act of kindness at a time.
I like to say in the world there are two sides. See BOTH SIDES but know the good far outweighs the bad.
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