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Repost: Five Lessons To Make You Think

Rudy

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I posted this a while back, but with so many new members here, and the turbulent times we live in, I figured it was worthwhile reposting these life lessons.


Five Lessons To Make You Think

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"


Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American
woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man
took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
special note was attached..

It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
the other night. The rain drenched not only my
clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
husband's bedside just before he passed away... God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.


4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will
save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.


"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been
hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."
 
Thank you Rudy for digging this out of the archives. I'm not feeling too good about myself right now, but these lessons are food for thought and my brain needed something other than what it was being fed. This fit the bill. Again, I thank you.
 
Not sure how old you are Rudy but your ether a wise old bird or a young wise bird , very good and very true . Thanks




Harold
 
Not sure how old you are Rudy but your ether a wise old bird or a young wise bird , very good and very true . Thanks




Harold

Harold, I'll give you a hint and let you decide.

One of my projects right now is to select a Medigap insurance provider. :yes:
 
Great post Rudy. I am going to make a point to be kind to everyone I see today. Starting with my family and my dogs. Then I will go to the grocery and buy food for a special meal for them and doggy treats. While I am at the local market I am going to make sure they know that I appreciate their hard work especially being a Sunday. I get so busy sometimes it seems that a week can pass and I don't even notice how blessed I am. Thanks for the reminder.
 
Lessons

Thanks Rudy.
I know one of these stories. Back when I was younger I had a hard time understanding the lessons of growing-up. I was a teenager coming from a divorced family and things just didn't seem to fit right, kind like you see other people and every thing seems to go right for them.
A friend and I decided to run away from home and took of for Florida. We hitch hiked our way down route 60 I think. There are a few stories I could tell but the end of the story is what I guess will remain with me.
My friend and I ran afoul when we trespassed at a military base in Charleston, SC. We were separated and placed in Jail and then threatened with some years in prison (both of us were under 18).
Long story short, I was given an ultimatum: stay and serve time or go home. I chose home. An elderly African American, dressed nicely and soft spoken took me to the airport. I guess he was a detective or sorts. I didn't speak much, being shy but he talked to me. We sat there in that airport and right before my plane left he told me, 'You know, one day I'm gonna read about you because I know you'll be famous.'
This stranger knew what seed to plant in me and neither color nor social class prevented him from doing what he knew was helpful.
I never became famous but I have traveled a good portion through Europe and Russia. I've met so many diverse and kind people but the road to that adventure came from taking the time to talk to people that may not even know how to speak english.
I wish I could thank this man and for the faith he had in his heart.
 
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