BS: What've you done to improve the world?

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: Amergin
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 12:11 AM

I take showers every day....and wear deodorant.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 12:10 PM

Today I went with my friend for her sonogram. Everyone got to talking about cravings. The two sonogram techs both were wanting a brownie sundae.

Two hours later we walked into the hospital with 2 of the biggest brownie sundaes I have ever seen.....almost as big as the smiles we received. Does that improve the world? Nah...but it made a few people more happy and THAT improves the world!   :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: jimmyt
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 12:51 PM

I practice every day doing some dental work for free. I like to decide on when and what I do, but everyday I do some charity. I treat my patients every day like I would want to be treated myself. I always remember what an old dentist I used to work for said to a patient one day."Well, if I had your mouth, this is the way I would want it treated," he said rather condesendingly. "You know, Doctor," the patient retorted, " If I had your wallet, I would."

I try to do the best thing that can be done realistically, knowing that perhaps patching someone up so they can get school clothes for the kids is making a bigger contribution than doing a crown.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: open mike
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 01:06 PM

Bought up two decent kids. -- Where did you purchase them?
I hope they were the right size, etc. Was there a return policy?

oh an by the way. i recommend reading this little book...it
all started in a Sausalito, California, restaurant in 1982 when Anne Herbert scrawled the words "practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty ...

i am not sure if this foundation is connected to the author,
and there is some discrepancy, some claim she is from sausalito
CA, some say Berkeley, CA, one mention even says that phrase is
anonymous, but Anne Herbert definately wrote it.

http://www.yoyow.com/aherbert/

the book talks about keeping a clown nose in your car
for amusing fellow travellers when stuck in traffic,
and other ways to bring a smile, such as feedin a parking meter
that has expired, paying for an extra passage at a toll
booth, and treating the next in line to pass thru,
little things that help you and others thru the day.

here is another site: http://www.noogenesis.com/malama/kindness/

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 01:47 PM

jimmyt, you are a saint.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: GUEST,Larry K
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 02:03 PM

Everyone contributes in their own way.   After one of my seminars, a woman told be a line that just floored me in how profound it was.   She said that if everyone just followed one of my suggestions and saved 5% of their energy- just think what a difference that would make on the world.

A year later and I still think of that line.   Every little bit that everyone does makes the world a better place.

Great thread.   I love reading about all the wonderfull accomplishments- both great and small.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: jimmyt
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 02:13 PM

CarolC surely you jest.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 02:30 PM

Not at all, jimmyt. I think you are making a much more profound difference in people's lives than even you realize.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: freda underhill
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 02:45 PM

that is so inspiring jimmyt. i agree with Carolc.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 02:45 PM

I'm not surprised about jimmy, Carol C, although I didn't know it. My dentist gives me 20-30% off when he works on my teeth because I am a senior citizen with no dental coverage.

Or maybe it's because I look so down in the mouth.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 03:32 PM

I have housed and neutered countless cats, birthed their babies, found homes for as many as I could and kept the rest. By my estimate, several hundred thousand homeless cats do not exist as a result of my efforts. And about 50 led healthy happy lives or finished out what time they had left in a warm safe home with lots of food and love. My tiny little corner of the universe.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 03:55 PM

jimmyt, good for you. It reminds me of the Delany sisters who co-wrote Having Our Say. Here's the bit it reminded me of:

Bessie Delany graduated in 1923 -- when she was 32 -- from the School of Dental and Oral Surgery at Columbia University. She was the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York City.
      Bessie Delany became known in Harlem for never turning away a needy patient, no matter how poor or sick. "I remember a child with syphilis, and nobody else would touch her," she said. "I said, Well, somebody's got to help her, so I did."

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: GUEST,SueB
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 10:44 AM

Not nearly enough.

I know this thread should be inspiring, but...

Well, I haven't killed anyone. That should count for something.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 03:10 PM

... made a friend of my brother ... took twelve years ... many people are better off now! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 03:16 PM

Funny you should say that SueB....I was thinking the same thing! Although, I can think of a few instances where that just might actually improve this world!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: M'Grath of Altcar
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 04:17 PM

George had Downe's Syndrome and had very limited speech. He only knew a few words despite being in his twenties.

I used to sit down with him and we would have conversations.

In nonsense language.

Over the months and years that we did this, We developed a vocabulary of sounds, gestures and expressions.

We could argue! ( In a freindly playful way) The pitch and volume of our voices would gradually rise to a crescendo. And the conversation was regularly punctuated with bouts of laughing.

We both enjoyed it enormously. And while meaning wasn't present in our chats the freindliness that conversation imparts was there.

One of his carers pointed out that I was probably the only person who had ever had a conversation with him.

George died a few years ago. :o(

MofA

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 04:54 PM

MofA,

That is just sweet and makes my heart smile. :) Thanks for sharing that with us!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 06:54 PM

You just reminded me: my neighbor in NYC has a grandson who is autistic. When I did my laundry in the basement he would sneak out of his apartment to help me. He loved moving the wet clothes to the dryer and then he would run back home. One day, he came in, pulled on the neckline of an obviously new sweatshirt with a team logo and said "shirt". I said "Wow you have a new shirt. It looks great on you." He smiled, said "shirt" and ran away. A few minutes later his mother came in and I said "John told me about his new shirt". She looked baffled and asked what I was talking about. I repeated the story and she, almost in tears, said "John doesn't talk". He did that day. I don't know that I did anyting but listen.

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: robomatic
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 07:24 PM

My next car will be a hybrid. I will talk up energy efficiency and hybrids at avery opportunity.

Hey, anyone catch the new Prius? ;'>

Subject: RE: BS: What've you done to improve the world?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 05:01 AM

I have not done enough yet to improve myself or the world but I am working on it.