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41 comments
Love this! Especially #4. I’ve heard people say “Well, those people probably aren’t really homeless” But hey, even if they’re not, sometimes people just need to know there’s someone out there who would help them if they WERE homeless.
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absolutely.
thanks for the comment girl! much appreciated
ReplyBig Chris: You’re making a difference with every blog post! Thanks for the reminder of the simple things we can do – and the benefits that come back, just might surprise you. It feels amazing when you do something (no matter how small) for someone for no reason. It can be addicting in the greatest of ways.
Thanks again for keepin it real.
Lisa
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awe thanks Lisa. And I agree. It’s crazy how the smallest little act of kindness can feel so damn good
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you’re welcome forrest. and thanks for taking the time to comment bud.
ReplyWhile i’m not a church goer I do have a profound spiritual belief system. Every year at christmas time I have my kids at the local church pick a name from the christmas tree for the local orphanage and we buy PJ’s, robes and slippers for them. Everybody wins, me, my kids and the local orphans.
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Superb post as always Chris! so easy to get caught up in the craziness of life that we forget about the simple value of just a few seconds or a few minutes spent putting someone else in the spotlight. Another personal touch I have done from time to time is when I stop in a convenience store for a coffee or snack there will always be someone outside near the store that is obviously in need, I have picked up a bottle of water, a sandwich and some fruit and hand it to them as I walk out the door.
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appreciate craig, and that’s a great thing to do BTW, love it
ReplyHey Chris! Great tips and food for thought! Being selfish is a servival instinct and reasonably a good thing to have. Expressing emotions and giving is not something that is natural comming to me, but I learn.
Yesterday me and my partner bought food for people in need and delivered it in a food bank. It is important to remember about people who is worse than you are.
Am I pround of it? Yes.
Got little presents and cards to my work collegues. Didn’t expect anything in return, just thought would be nice to do something different.

Jelena that is AWESOME. so cool.
And…
thank you for your kind words
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Thank you for this Chris. I may print this and hang it on my refigerator. I’m just like you. I’ve been self absorbed and selfish my whole life. The last couple years I’ve been learning how to put others first, be more giving, and not take things for granted. I’ve learned my lessons the hard way; I’ve lost a marriage and beautiful family, among other things, because of my selfishness. But, every day is a new day, and the past is the past, all we can do is keep learning and moving forward.
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Hellyeah Ken. Gotta learn from our mistakes and move forward with our new found wisdom, brother
ReplyGrowing up and hearing horror stories from people in just about every job made me think. And knowing that you, in your own job, have times where if someone would just help you out that little bit it would make your day. Well, no matter where I am I have made it a solid habit to leave it better than I found it. Public restrooms: I will never leave without wiping down the sink and/or mirror and picking up the paper towels that which are lazily tossed in the direction of the trash can. Yes, people get paid to do those things, but, what do you get paid to do? Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone made your work just a bit easier. Walking into a mess is intimidating but walking in and seeing that someone has given you a hand, I would imagine, will shoulder some of the load. I apply this to every situation in life, and in order to leave people better off after meeting them, you give genuine compliments, a shoulder to lean on, a few bucks when it counts, some helpful advice, and so much more.
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Jim, you have it nailed. LOVE how you’re going about this aspect of your life. LOVE IT
ReplyOoooo-weeeee!! I’ve missed you Big Chris! Thanks for this. I’m right there with you. Gonna try and make someone’s life a little easier today, and in doing so, make mine a little lighter.
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Chris, I am going to call you out on 3 & 9: how ’bout giving us new posts more often, not just once in a blue moon? That’s a win-win, we get more posts, you get to be less selfish. 😉
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^What he said! I just came across your blog Chris and I love it =)
Replynice post, Chris, especially when reading it on Christmas time
greetings from Poland

thanks a ton and back at ya. I actually have a ton of polish in me. My mom is polish (=
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Holy shit! This is sooo inspiring. Thanks for sharing EdP. You’re a true warrior (=
ReplyHey Chris,
Good to see you back writing again! I am a HUGE believer in giving unconditionally and have always felt my best when I am doing it. I have a soft spot for the homeless and try to give whenever I can. I’ve always hated hearing “he’ll just use it for booze” and I always say the same thing “who cares, his life is worse than ours so anything I can do to make it better, I will”.
Stay up bro.
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Right on Steve. And I’m 100% with you on the booze thing. 100%
Thanks for your words my man
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Inspiring article Chris – thank you, we do, all to often, forget to do these things in our busy lives and it is nice to be reminded to ‘pay it forward’ so to speak – something I shall endeavour to do more of! – great stuff thanks again!
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I was always a loser so I was always trying to win. After reading your inspirational post I decided to let other people win by giving them what they want. I can admire their proficiency, appreciate their effort, respect their decisions, and praise their performance.
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Great post Chris! I definitely think it’s a great idea to give yourself permission to make a difference. So many of us are taught that when you give something away it subtracts from what you have…. and as you know, that sh!t ain’t the truth. The truth is that when you give something away…. it multiplies what you are/have because when you give something to someone else you’re really giving it to yourself, yet in a different form.
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Another excellent post Chris and damn on point!
One quick story, my dad used to have a large wholesale company. Every Christmas we did the party thing and drew names and bought gifts for each other. Ties we wouldn’t wear (well, I don’t wear ties PERIOD), cheap aftershave, etc.
Then we decided to take the money we spent on these shitty gifts and adopt a family one Christmas. Bought the family food, clothes, toys for the kids, everything.
Three things happened here:
1-Where before everyone might spend 10 bucks on a gift for coworker, suddenly we were pitching $100 bucks or more into the pot (this was in the early 70s, $100 was a big deal then).
2-When we delivered the gifts to the family, the joy on their faces was amazing. I didn’t make any difference why they were in their situation, it was that, for maybe only a day or two, they knew someone cared for them. Complete strangers who shelled out a few bucks for a family they didn’t know.
3-Holy shit did this grow! In a space of maybe 5 years we went from 1 family to 7 or 8. We picked them up and brought them to the company and laid out a huge Christmas dinner. Other companies got involved. Stored donated things to our efforts.
And one final thing. When I decided to do the paramedic thing, we started doing the same thing there. One of our crews had run on a near drowning on a kid. He ended up with brain damage and the family caring for him totally. The financial impact on the family was huge and they had little money before the accident.
Christmas eve we went out to their house in our Mass Casualty Unit (big truck to carry multiple patients) and it was packed with gifts. We “invaded” their house with everything from gifts to a Christmas tree with decorations.
These things meant more to us than any gift that anyone could have given us.
What you give may, or may not come back to you. But the joy of giving is what you give to yourself.
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Wow Randal that is an AWESOME story man – so, so cool. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyI’m a selfish asshole. Always have been, and I’m terrified that I always will be – which relates to other points you’ve made. I just have this “fuck you” attitude when it comes to be being what everyone wants me to be. I can’t live up to my own expectations, how can I live up to theirs? I’m hurting the people around me, and I feel even shittier for that. They got stuck with me and I’m fucking ruining their lives because I’m a selfish asshole. I would be better by myself, so the only person I hurt is myself. I give to causes, I always try to be there for a friend in need (those I still have), but I’m doomed to be miserable because I have this bullshit attitude that if everyone wants me to be happy, then I’m gonna spite them all. :/
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