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KIND WORDS
Sharing Your Experiences For information about sponsorship contact
Info@..."Giving Rests More in the Heart than in the Wallet"
The author wishes to remain anonymous
Edited by Shmuel Greenbaum
Printed with Permission of
http://www.PartnersInKindness.orgThe author wishes to remain anonymous
Edited by Shmuel Greenbaum
Printed with Permission of
I work with a woman who could not afford holiday presents or celebrations for her family and was "adopted" by a business in the area. I mentioned to her that I knew of another woman with the same problem and wondered where I could get her help.
The first woman spoke with her mother, and they contacted other friends. Today, they delivered five bags of food including a 14 pound turkey and about fifteen or twenty wrapped presents, to give to the other woman for her children.
I feel humbled by the generosity of the first woman, who although she could not afford to give to her own family, found a way to give to another. I can only hope that in the future, I can find within myself the ability to give as she has given.
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"Sharing Your Experiences"
From Kindness: Making a Difference in People's Lives: Formulas, stories, and insights
By Zelig Pliskin
Printed with Permission of Shaar Press
"The suffering of many, is half a consolation." When someone has a problem or difficulty, it is comforting and consoling to hear from someone, "I, too, had a similar problem."
Those who have experienced a similar situation or occurrence may find that the very way they solved this problem can serve as a solution for the person they are talking to. At times a different solution might be needed, but if one person could find a solution, it proves that the problem is solvable. And even if an immediate solution is not forthcoming, hearing from someone that he too experienced what you are experiencing lightens the burden somewhat. Be very careful not to needlessly say anything negative about other people when you share your experiences.
Consider these examples from my students:
My mother would reprove me, tell me stories and aphorisms, but she would never tell me that she experienced the same things that I did. My mother was the greatest teacher I ever had. But I wish that she would have shared with me some of the difficulties that she experienced. And now that she is gone, I wish that she would have shared with me her feelings when her mother died.
* * *
I visit people who have cancer because I, too, had cancer and recovered fully. I have a vivid memory of speaking to one of the greatest scholars of the generation when I was ill. He unbuttoned his shirt and showed me his long scar. "That scar is 18 years old," he told me. "And I have lived a healthy and productive life since then."
Those words encouraged me tremendously. After I recovered fully myself, I was advised to visit people with similar conditions and give them encouragement. I have been told many times that sharing my story was the source of great encouragement.
* * *
I had a rough childhood. Many people who experienced what I did would have given up. I almost did many times. But I persevered and overcame the gravity of my childhood experiences. I share this with as many people as I can to give them a vision of what is possible for them to achieve even though they had a very difficult start in life.
* * *
I am very shy and am easily intimidated by tough people. I am now a sought after public speaker and can easily speak to groups of any size. When I first began teaching, I found it very difficult to have eye contact with my students. I felt that it was impossible for me to confront anyone. I have come a long way. When I share this with other people who are shy and reserved, I observe their faces light up. "I see that there is hope for me," they often say.
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Although the content of these e-mails contains copyrighted material, Partners in Kindness allows users who register at our website to reprint them in print, on a website, or on an e-mail distribution list at no cost.
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