Last night, I was reminded about how important it is to do things for others, especially when your down yourself. It provides one of the best feelings you can have - giving without want or need for anything back. When you put a smile on someone’s face or give them that warm fuzzy feeling inside- it’s enough to pay you back many times over.
In the Pixar film - Monsters, Inc we find those scary nightmarish monsters find more power in energy by making kids laugh rather than scream. Recently, I saw a study on the detection of heart attacks in women. As a preventative measure they said, a woman should get 15 minutes of laughter a day. It’s as good as physical exercise.
I don’t think there’s a doubt laughter is great for your state of mind. Even the dullest sourpuss could light a room if a laugh crossed his/her face. How many times have you gotten the giggles because someone near you was laughing hysterically, and you didn’t even know why you were laughing?
When I was in college I had the chance to go out to Los Angeles to visit some friends. I worked in a restaurant at the time as a kitchen waiter (food deliverer). One of the cooks- Doug- was this philosophical sorta guy- a dead head- and a basically a living cartoon. We used to hang out, BS over beers, talk philosophy and comedy as he pounded away pitcher after pitcher of beer in the 120 degree heat in the kitchen.
He knew I was going out to LA, so one day he says, “Steve, here’s a dollar. I want you to buy some homeless guy a cup of coffee on Sunset Blvd.” I told him, “I think that’s great, and I’m GONNA do it.”
The trip comes and I’m walkin down Sunset Blvd lookin at the assorted people. I spot this bearded guy who looked pretty destitute. He was tellin some story to others and laughing like crazy. I watched in the distance, noticed his shopping cart full of clothes and stuff and waited until the others left a few minutes later.
I go up to this guy and say “I want to give you a dollar for some coffee.”
He turns around and gives me this attitude, “I don’t want your dollar! Who the hell do ya think I am?!”
Being kindly and soft spoken, I say, “Look I just thought you could use a cup of coffee.”
And he starts with me. “You don’t know what I need! I don’t need your money. I don’t want your money, just leave me alone!”
Well, it was my turn for the attitude, “hey man, LOOK- I got this buddy in Jersey. He told me to give some guy down on his luck a buck to get a coffee. You look like ya needed it, but I’m not gonna argue over it. If ya want it, it’s yours- it’ll give ya a good cup of Joe. Jesus…..” I say and by this time he could see I was pissed.
He humbly bowed his head and turned back to me and says something like, “I’ll take your dollar. I’m sorry. I could use a cup of coffee. Thanks so much.”
It was all in the way he said it. I could see it in his eyes- the appreciation. When I walked away from that man, I was like the Grinch bringing back the presents to Whosville. It was an internal feeling I couldn’t describe.
When you give, you receive- no matter HOW you look at it. You know that dollar was symbolic for me in so many ways. It showed me how a proud man down on his luck survives. It exposed the truth below the surface. It showed me the essence of humanity.
All it took was a suggestion from my friend Doug, and me to carry it out. We all prospered from that moment. Me, Doug and that guy down on his luck- because we all smiled 2000 miles apart. It only cost one dollar. Now, THAT’s TRUE value.
Steve