RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,398 
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Post by RosieKat on Jan 18, 2023 15:45:58 GMT
...please do. Also please know that I'm not sharing the following story to brag or anything - what I did was tiny. But it shocked me how much a difference it made.
I had a dilemma today. My neighbor's husband passed away very unexpectedly yesterday. They are older but not elderly, and they had a very traditional relationship where he did all the "man" things and she did all the "woman" things. We are/were not close by any means, although she and I are friendly. Every time I saw them, they were together, and I figure she is utterly bereft. Today is garbage day, and I figured that was something he had always dealt with. I saw the trash had been picked up and hers had been emptied but the can had fallen over, and was still out in the street. I didn't want to weirdly overstep, and knowing that it would make a huge amount of noise to bring it back in, I didn't want to alarm anyone inside. I hemmed and hawed while I was picking up our cans, and decided just to go over and do it.
She came out when I was about halfway up the driveway, just crying and saying thank you. She is just shocked and devastated, but was so grateful someone thought of something so small just to give her a little hug. I mean, just SO grateful. I think that one tiny, tiny thing made a massive difference in her day. Obviously, it didn't fix a darn thing, and I said as much to her - that I knew I couldn't fix this, or help make the pain any less, but I could take in her trash cans. I think it helped her understand that she really was not in this alone.
So please. If you can do even the tiniest little thing for someone today, and you're debating whether to do it or not - please do it.
And by the way, if you can but have not, please get your flu shot. He did not get it, and he passed away from complications of flu, less than 24 hours after being taken to the hospital.
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Post by Merge on Jan 18, 2023 15:48:00 GMT
...please do. Also please know that I'm not sharing the following story to brag or anything - what I did was tiny. But it shocked me how much a difference it made. I had a dilemma today. My neighbor's husband passed away very unexpectedly yesterday. They are older but not elderly, and they had a very traditional relationship where he did all the "man" things and she did all the "woman" things. We are/were not close by any means, although she and I are friendly. Every time I saw them, they were together, and I figure she is utterly bereft. Today is garbage day, and I figured that was something he had always dealt with. I saw the trash had been picked up and hers had been emptied but the can had fallen over, and was still out in the street. I didn't want to weirdly overstep, and knowing that it would make a huge amount of noise to bring it back in, I didn't want to alarm anyone inside. I hemmed and hawed while I was picking up our cans, and decided just to go over and do it. She came out when I was about halfway up the driveway, just crying and saying thank you. She is just shocked and devastated, but was so grateful someone thought of something so small just to give her a little hug. I mean, just SO grateful. I think that one tiny, tiny thing made a massive difference in her day. Obviously, it didn't fix a darn thing, and I said as much to her - that I knew I couldn't fix this, or help make the pain any less, but I could take in her trash cans. I think it helped her understand that she really was not in this alone. So please. If you can do even the tiniest little thing for someone today, and you're debating whether to do it or not - please do it. And by the way, if you can but have not, please get your flu shot. He did not get it, and he passed away from complications of flu, less than 24 hours after being taken to the hospital. Oh my goodness, how tragic for her, and what a great reminder for the rest of us. Thank you for doing that nice thing. |
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Post by CardBoxer on Jan 18, 2023 15:49:30 GMT
Thank you. {tears} I wish I could do something for her.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 18, 2023 15:55:58 GMT
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Post by paulao on Jan 18, 2023 16:03:59 GMT
You made a difference in her life. Brava!
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Post by scrapmaven on Jan 18, 2023 16:06:28 GMT
The littlest things can really make a person's day or give them hope. You're a good egg.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jan 18, 2023 16:10:08 GMT
I love this so much! Such a kind thing to do and a great reminder to step out of our comfort zones.
(And I have a friend whose running partner just passed away from complications from the flu. She was in her 40s with three children under 16 and a fit, healthy triathlete.)
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Post by belgravia on Jan 18, 2023 16:16:13 GMT
A tiny thing to you was not such a tiny thing to her! Thank you for the reminder ☺️
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Post by peace on Jan 18, 2023 16:34:38 GMT
all ripples become greater over time. Thank you for being such a thoughtful and compassionate human.
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casii
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,466
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Post by casii on Jan 18, 2023 16:51:33 GMT
Small gestures can mean everything.
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Post by slowrunner70 on Jan 18, 2023 16:59:30 GMT
Thank you for this act of kindness, and thank you for telling us about it.
The last few days have been full of challenging phone calls at my customer service job (tame and insignificant compared to what retail workers in the US have to deal with.... I know this from my own experience) here in Germany.
One phone call lasted over 90 minutes, and I was really struggling to keep my composure. The customer had just recently lost their spouse, and was trying to order thank you cards after the funeral.
Another one was an elderly gentleman who couldn't figure out how to fix his order. Although it's not part of my job (I'm a CSR, not a graphic designer), I spent a lot of time helping him figure out how to get it right.
Both customers were frazzled, and frustrated, and at the end of their rope, but I kept reminding myself of their situation and circumstances, and I kept encouraging them and reassuring them.
And as exhausted as I was at the end of both conversations, it felt good to know that they now have one less thing to worry about.
Your post reassured ME that I did the right thing.
So THANK YOU!
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Post by flanz on Jan 18, 2023 17:04:51 GMT
Sometimes it really is true that the little things ARE the big things.
Way to go!
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Post by malibou on Jan 18, 2023 17:10:58 GMT
As fil always said Mony a mickle maks a muckle! It means lots of little ones makes a big one. That was a very lovely thing you did, RosieKat, and by sharing you remind us all that even the smallest thing in our minds can be huge to someone in need. |
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,398
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Post by RosieKat on Jan 18, 2023 17:14:39 GMT
And as exhausted as I was at the end of both conversations, it felt good to know that they now have one less thing to worry about. That is awesome! It's so hard sometimes to go the extra mile, and then you find out it's an extra marathon! You definitely made a difference to them! |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 20:27:03 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2023 17:15:51 GMT
The exact words I was about to type 💕 |
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Post by disneypal on Jan 18, 2023 17:26:02 GMT
That is sweet and such a good reminder....you just never know what small things could really mean so much to someone.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jan 18, 2023 17:47:46 GMT
Also please know that I'm not sharing the following story to brag or anything I don't really find sharing these types of experiences to be bragging at all. To me, it's more like hearing a bit of happy news that makes smile. A bright spot in the day. And it can give us all an idea of a way to make a small difference for someone ourselves. |
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Post by papersilly on Jan 18, 2023 17:54:58 GMT
what a kind thing for you to do! the smallest gestures can really mean a lot.
I remember when my neighbor's husband died suddenly. DH and i waited in front of her house until she came home from the hospital. it was was already night and dark but we didn't want her to come home to an empty house considering she last left there with her husband. to this day she still mentions that one moment.
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Post by FrozenPea on Jan 18, 2023 17:58:33 GMT
This brought tears to my eyes. It's the little things.
When I was in a boot after foot surgery the UPS man came. He came again the next day and he brought the trash can in from the street. Told me he didn't want me to have to worry about it. Such a sweet simple gesture. Something that I will never forget.
I am sorry for your neighbor's loss.
Thank you for the psa about flu shots. I got mine in October.
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Post by FrozenPea on Jan 18, 2023 17:59:40 GMT
what a kind thing for you to do! the smallest gestures can really mean a lot. I remember when my neighbor's husband died suddenly. DH and i waited in front of her house until she came home from the hospital. it was was already night and dark but we didn't want her to come home to an empty house considering she last left there with her husband. to this day she still mentions that one moment. Now I am crying. That was incredibly thoughtful and heart-warming. |
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Post by papersilly on Jan 18, 2023 18:12:01 GMT
what a kind thing for you to do! the smallest gestures can really mean a lot. I remember when my neighbor's husband died suddenly. DH and i waited in front of her house until she came home from the hospital. it was was already night and dark but we didn't want her to come home to an empty house considering she last left there with her husband. to this day she still mentions that one moment. Now I am crying. That was incredibly thought and heart-warming. they lived directly across the street from us. the husband was only 44 and we were all about the same age. we had a tight knit block so we were all devastated by the loss. he was our "block captain" so to speak. i just remember staring at her dark house. i couldn't imagine coming home to a darkened and empty home after finally coming home from the hospital. i had keys to her house and thought about turning some lights on but we decided that not walking in alone might be a little more comforting. |
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Post by Lexica on Jan 18, 2023 18:22:00 GMT
When I had my first trash day here, I started to go out to bring the cans back in and when I walked out the front door, I saw the cans were up at my garage under the eave that I wouldn't get wet when taking them into the garage. I didn't know who had done that, but I silently thanked them. It started happening every week and I didn't know what to think of it. When I met my next door neighbor, I asked him about it. He told me that it was the man in the corner house next-door to me that does it for the whole street. I though that was so very kind of him to do! I saw him a couple of weeks later, in the pouring rain, bundled up and walking down the street, running all the trash cans up to people's garages. It is just his way to be helpful. And I sure appreciate it.
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,476
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Post by edie3 on Jan 18, 2023 20:14:13 GMT
What a sweet thing for you to do.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Jan 18, 2023 20:21:37 GMT
Today I am going to stuff backpacks for families with food insecurity. It’s a whole ton of fun but we need one more volunteer. That would be nice anyway. I love the job and everyone is there because they want to be there which is the most fun.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,734
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Post by purplebee on Jan 18, 2023 20:33:14 GMT
So uplifting to know there are still kind people in this world. Love is the key…💜
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jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,521
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Post by jayfab on Jan 18, 2023 20:38:53 GMT
You are a kind human being. The world needs more of you!
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Post by librarylady on Jan 18, 2023 21:01:20 GMT
Helping neighbors:
Years ago, our neighbors were aging, so I began to put the paper on their porch when I began my morning walk. Then he became ill with cancer so I hung it on the door knob so he wouldn't have to bend over to pick it up.
After I stopped walking very early and DH had retired he began putting the paper on the porches of older neighbors.
Times have changed and we have only 1 neighbor still taking a print newspaper, but he puts it on her porch each morning.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,664
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Post by Rhondito on Jan 18, 2023 21:35:23 GMT
You're good people, Rosie.
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Post by ntsf on Jan 18, 2023 21:36:53 GMT
my older next door neighbor is so sweet--she brought over soup and muffins after dh came home from the hospital... and we are her emergency call people. but she won't get a flu or covid shot!!!
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Post by ntsf on Jan 18, 2023 21:40:28 GMT
my older next door neighbor is so sweet--she brought over soup and muffins after dh came home from the hospital... and we are her emergency call people. but she won't get a flu or covid shot!!!
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