What Can You Do?

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Little things we can do from where we are make a difference. The following story made me feel really good:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/whitbies-fish-and-chips-lethbridge-1.3737483

Thirty Bills Unpaid

When I was at university back in the late 80s... we had a poker night and it went late.

I had a knock on my door early- it was a roommate of mine who did well in poker. He said, "Hey. I'm taking you for breakfast. Let's go!" So I threw on my shorts and tshirt and got going.

When we were driving, Ian said, "Our choice has to be the right choice. Not Denny's... not White Spot... the place we choose needs to be one where the owner is needing our fare to pay his bills."

We found one. Ian was ecstatic: "Yes! Yes! This is the one. Oh look at this place." It needed us in there.

We had bacon and eggs. And I learned something. I do sometimes go to corporate chain restaurants, but given an option... I choose the small guy.

My family's favourite restaurant is a mom and pop Italian shop in the worst part of our town. You walk in and you can smell the dough rising: mom is the hostess, daughter is the waitress, dad and uncle are the cooks. When the kids order milk, they get different glasses that are just about the same size.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

I have opened this thread to find common ground: it seems as if we all have a lot of opinions about a lot of things; however, I also think we are more alike than different. We care.

Share your personal stories where you feel your effort or attitude or habit makes a small difference for those around you in your corner of the world.

Please.

hedonist

Nice, Thirty.

I've found common - and sometimes in the oddest places - ground with most everyone here at some point. Some strong bonds that I know are long-lasting.

From here, no grand gestures...but I do try to do my little part as I can.

Let a non-asshole into traffic, hold the door or elevator for someone, offer up a gift card or a couple of bucks to someone down on their luck. Hell, just giving a smile.

Makes me think of the lyrics to Who You Are.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

hedonist said:

Nice, Thirty.

I've found common - and sometimes in the oddest places - ground with most everyone here at some point. Some strong bonds that I know are long-lasting.

From here, no grand gestures...but I do try to do my little part as I can.

Let a non-asshole into traffic, hold the door or elevator for someone, offer up a gift card or a couple of bucks to someone down on their luck. Hell, just giving a smile.

Makes me think of the lyrics to Who You Are.

Hedo...

You are definitely one of the nicest people in the 10C.

If I ever contribute something that has you opposed to what I'm saying.., I think I would retreat.

Those 'little things' you do make a big difference. They do. Seriously.

hedonist

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

hedonist said:

Nice, Thirty.

I've found common - and sometimes in the oddest places - ground with most everyone here at some point. Some strong bonds that I know are long-lasting.

From here, no grand gestures...but I do try to do my little part as I can.

Let a non-asshole into traffic, hold the door or elevator for someone, offer up a gift card or a couple of bucks to someone down on their luck. Hell, just giving a smile.

Makes me think of the lyrics to Who You Are.

Hedo...

You are definitely one of the nicest people in the 10C.

If I ever contribute something that has you opposed to what I'm saying.., I think I would retreat.

Those 'little things' you do make a big difference. They do. Seriously.

Wow - thank you, my friend. And never retreat! We may have different views on the dog front, but I respect them as I respect you, and how those views are given.

See? Just some words (and moreso the energy given / received with those words) can make a huge difference.

brianlux

I hope I have done a few things where my effort or attitude or habit made a small difference for those around me but I don't know. I do know that there have been several people in my life who have done that for me.

One terrific example:

We had a member here for a long time who went by the user name DS. DS saw some of my posts about all the great bands I've seen going back to Jimi Hendrix, The Who, CSNY etc. and when he found out I had never seen Pearl Jam he said, "You must see them!" and bought me a ticket for the Missoula, MT show! I was blown away! We met up the day of the show and much to my concern, I discovered that our seats were situated very close to the PA system and I told him that with my damaged hearing and hyperacusis I would not last long that close to the speaker system. So DS again came to my aid by helping me track down another fan who was willing to trade seats and I secured a spot up in the balcony where it was better for my ears and she got to sit with him up much closer to the stage which was great for her. It turned out to be a fantastic evening and was one of the finest shows of any I have ever seen. And besides the great show, I met some other really wonderful people here-- you know who you are! I feel the love!

Thank you DS!

lukin2006

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Little things we can do from where we are make a difference. The following story made me feel really good:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/whitbies-fish-and-chips-lethbridge-1.3737483

Great story ... 99% of facebook users would have posted a picture of the fish n chips and said "yum, look what I'm having", and left it at that. So good for him for promoting this guys business.

RunIntoTheRain

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Little things we can do from where we are make a difference. The following story made me feel really good:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/whitbies-fish-and-chips-lethbridge-1.3737483

Thank you. Great story.
Imagine how inspiring it would be if the news reports consisted of at least 25% feel good/positive stories.
If this thread is going to be continually updated with these types of stories, I will visit it every single day. Feed my soul.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

lukin2006 said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Little things we can do from where we are make a difference. The following story made me feel really good:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/whitbies-fish-and-chips-lethbridge-1.3737483

Great story ... 99% of facebook users would have posted a picture of the fish n chips and said "yum, look what I'm having", and left it at that. So good for him for promoting this guys business.

RunIntoTheRain said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Little things we can do from where we are make a difference. The following story made me feel really good:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/whitbies-fish-and-chips-lethbridge-1.3737483

Thank you. Great story.
Imagine how inspiring it would be if the news reports consisted of at least 25% feel good/positive stories.
If this thread is going to be continually updated with these types of stories, I will visit it every single day. Feed my soul.

I'm glad you liked it as much as I did.

I really do find myself growing ultra pessimistic drowning myself in the shitty current events. This story reminded me how we can still make a difference- as big or small as that difference might be- in our corners of the world. Supporting small business is huge.

I buy responsibly grown meat from our neighbourhood butcher. It costs more, but its fresh meat and grown ethically (if we can say that). We buy no packaged/boxed meats of any kind: like the Costco 30 packs of chicken breasts.

Is that making a difference of any kind?

HughFreakingDillon

always local, whenever I can. it takes some convincing, but my wife generally really likes that when we do. we have a little farmer's market down the lane from us, and we shop there from time to time, but not enough. She complains "but it's so much more expensive than Superstore". I say "but it's non-freaking-GMO, and you support a local business that has about an 8 week selling year!".

I sometimes buy Tim cards for people. I won't give cash to homeless, but I'll do tim cards. go out of my way to tell somone at subway or tim's or wherever that they are doing a great job.

ever done the Tim's pay-it-forward? Pay for the person behind you in the drive thru line! (they've ordered their meal but you haven't paid for yours yet)

always promote local bands/artists that I like, or even if I don't, think of people who might. they need all the help they can get.

Godfather.

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Little things we can do from where we are make a difference. The following story made me feel really good:

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/whitbies-fish-and-chips-lethbridge-1.3737483

what a cool story !

Godfather.

Godfather.

I keep it local as much as possible, it's worth the extra buck or two to support your community and HFD I also like to support the arts when possible, music is a special gift in my opinion..one I didn't get LOL !

Godfather.