A Gift for Recipient and Donor
An article in Saturday's Washington Post (3/15/25) described an interesting way of helping people to help others. An English teacher, Kristina Ulmer, had a younger sister who was a waitress and a very kind person, who was killed in a car crash. The teacher preserved her sister's purse, which contained over $100 of tips that she had earned that morning. By and by the teacher thought of a wonderful way of using this money. Adding some of her own money to the total, she gave a new, crisp $20 bill to each of her students and told them to use the money to perform an act of kindness and to video it. This was a way of memorializing her sister's kindness.
"The $20 Kindness Challenge"
The students came through with a number of creative ideas that they used to perform acts of kindness. Examples included providing treats and blankets for dogs in a local animal shelter, handing out doughnuts to people on a street corner, providing toiletries and food to unhoused people, and buying holiday cards (and writing personalized notes in them) for people in a veterans' home. This exercise is now performed at the school twice a year, funded with donations that individuals send in. Some of the students continue to participate each year as they move through high school and beyond, and one, Rachel, said that this exercise has moved her to always look for little ways to help people, adding that "it's addicting."
A Wonderful Addiction
Imagine if this addiction could spread throughout the world, or at least through the country? Why doesn't it? Because many people are overwhelmed with their own personal difficulties and unable to even think about this, let alone act on it. There are those who couldn't spare the money, or the time, for this exercise. There are those who are too anxious or depressed to think about it. And there are those who are too angry or too cynical to even want to try.
And there are those who are open to it but don't follow through. Why not? Because other thoughts soon override this one. So if one wants to do this, it's best to plan it immediately. Of course, there are some who already do this, not necessarily with $20 but, as Rachel said, by seeing little ways to help people.
Your Inner Guide
Your Inner Guide knows whether this exercise is right for you. Will the time and effort be good for you? Or, given your current situation, will the task just add more stress? If you don't yet have an Inner Guide, you can acquire one, for free, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ4G9VIxS94
