Ask, Offer, Help

Remember the old scenario of a Boy Scout helping a little old lady across the street?  Ah, those were the good old days.

These days, it may be wise to NOT grab the elbow of someone on the street corner in order to escort them.  But there IS still something you CAN do.

If you’re in line at the grocery store and you see someone of advanced age ahead of you, or leaving the store around the same time you are, why not offer to walk them to their car, helping them with their groceries.

Same goes for helping someone across the street, a smile and a kind, “would you like some help?” can go a long long way.

Just cuz…

Help A Friend (Part 5)

Listen to your friends.

This is advice that I definitely need, because in my very close circle of friends, I tend to monopolize the conversation and events because, well, it’s all about me.

But it’s not. (Please don’t tell them I said this.) *grin*

Next time you’re trying to listen to your friends while trying not to make it all about you, pay particular attention to things that you could possibly assist with. Here is an example (a friend telling you):

Next weekend my husband and I are finally taking that vacation we’ve been wanting to take for five years. It’ll be nice. We’re going to drop the kids off at my mom’s. Buster, the dog, will be kenneled for a week. We’re so excited. I really need to drop five pounds so I can fit into that swimsuit.

Here’s where YOU come in. Before this friend asks for your assistance, think of things you can do to make it a little better for them:

• Offer to take care of the kids.
• Offer to Buster-sit their pooch.
• Offer to take them to the airport, or bus station, or train.
• Offer to add some power-exercise days to burn some calories.
• Offer to power-diet with them for moral support.

Again, these are just little things, but they can really add some karma to your day… just cuz

Help A Friend (Part 5)

Help a single-mom friend with a family outing!

It’s hard enough for two parents to round up the kids and do something special for them on the weekends, but there are many single-parent families trying to do the same thing. If you know a single mom (or single dad), why not offer to go with them to a local amusement park. Or if it’s getting cold, ask if they’re interested in an early fall hay ride or pumpkin patch hunt (it may be early for that).

Whatever the idea, let your friend know that you’re going along because you enjoy the company, AND you can’t imagine know how much of a pain it can be to try to handle the entire family thing alone, so you’re offering to join in on the fun, and help out!

Just cuz.

Help A Friend (Part 4)

Payday is five days away, and you seem to have enough to get yourself through the week.

You probably know someone – a friend or a co-worker – who constantly seems to struggle those last couple of days before payday.

How about being a “secret Santa” a couple times a year. Slip a ten or a twenty into an envelope with a note that says, “I know it can be tough toward the end of the pay period, so here’s a little something to help out, Just Cuz…”

Help A Friend (Part 3)

I recently saw a posting on our employee bulletin board from someone seeking others in her area to share the ride to work.

I thought this would be an excellent Just Cuz Act idea!

Think of the money you could save if you and three friends carpooled. That’s four days a week you wouldn’t be using your car to and from work. I know that logistically, this can be a little difficult, and at times you will be driving many miles more on your one day than your normally would if you were coming straight to work. But it’s not going to be the same amount as all four days of driving!

If there isn’t anyone at your office, your city may have a hotline to call and leave your name and general area to match up with someone else – a great way to save those gallons as well as make a new friend!

Ask around your place of business, and share the ride, save some gas, have some morning chatter, just cuz!

Help A Friend (Part 2)

Do you have a skill that is way above and beyond someone else? Why not help out a friend who may be lacking in that area?

Recently a friend of mine was having problems finding some information on the web. I have been, at times, referred to as a “search engine guru,” and she asked if I could help out. It just took a couple minutes of my time, and I had the answer for her.

Perhaps you excel on car problems. If you hear a friend say that they don’t know what’s wrong with their vehicle, why not offer to take a look? Is a friend considering getting a puppy? If you are a self-proclaimed puppy expert, give them some advice!

Use your gifts and talents to help others. Don’t do it for money or power, do it just cuz…

Help A Friend (Part 1)

Another series of posts (in addition to the Write series) is Help A Friend.

I hope you have been fortunate not to be living paycheck to paycheck. Many people are stricken with this dilemma. Sometimes it’s a matter of not managing finances properly, sometimes it’s just a rash of bad luck. In either case, I hope that personal judgments are left at the wayside and when we can help, we do.

Pick out some friends that you know of that have a rough time of it – especially those few days prior to paydays. Every once in a while, tell them you want to buy them lunch. Make it clear that there is no ulterior motive, and no reciprocation expected, just that you are going to XYZ Cafe for lunch, and didn’t want to go alone, and thought it would be nice to treat that friend to lunch so you could gossip, talk about movies, books, family stuff… whatever!

Buy a friend lunch, just cuz!

Give Direction

I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy. In some parts of the country, we take time out to help other people pretty much every chance we can get. In other parts, people are just too dang busy!

When I was living in New York City, I was one of those “too busy” people. Many people who don’t live in New York, think New Yorkers are rude. My explanation when I have heard this from people, is to tell them that it’s not that New Yorkers are rude, New Yorkers are just late. It seemed that I was always running late for something, so when a tourist needed directions to the Statue of Liberty, I would get frustrated and either give them bad directions, or ignore them completely. (I know… how awful!)

SO… toward the end of my stay in the City, I started to make a conscious choice to slow down and be ready to help someone with directions. And if I don’t know where something is, I’ll direct them to the nearest place that I think can help them.

So try to do the same. If you see someone who looks lost, go right up and ask them if they need help, need directions, need anything. You may be in a similiar predicament and need someone to help you out, just cuz…

Paint A Railing

Do you have a honeydew (Honey Do?) list? Does your partner?

How about sneaking a peek at your partner’s list, and find something that they have planned, and take it upon yourself to do it for them.

Something unexpected. Something that he or she would never expect you to do. Even if it takes eight times longer for you to do it, and you start to regret offering three hours into it *grin*, do it out of love and because you wanna do something nice for them. I’ll bet that if you start the project, work your way through it (again, no matter how long it takes), and complete it, even if it’s not quite as good as your partner would have done, they will be most appreciative of your valiant effort.

Paint a railing. Install some book shelves. Darn some socks (do people darn socks anymore?).

Do it because you love ‘em, and just cuz…

Help A Neighbor Out

With summer comes yard work.

I hate yard work, and I’m thankful that I live in an apartment, so I don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn, picking up twigs, watering or raking the grass, etc.

However, the other day, a friend of mine mentioned a “nice thing” that made me think about doing things in our yards. Apparently, she had hung some laundry out to dry (not only saving the electricity, but you know how nice sun-dried linens smell!). She needed to run some errands, and left the house. Storm clouds started to roll into the scene, and unfortunately, she was not home to bring her linens in the house.

Thankfully, a neighbor happened to be in their own back yard, and saw that the linens were out on the clothes line. The neighbor looked up and realized it was only a matter of minutes before the skies were going to let loose. So the neighbor ran next door and gathered up the laundry before the rains came.

This neighbor didn’t HAVE to do it, but out of kindness they decided to do it, just cuz.

So… the next chance you get to help a neighbor out, whether it be pulling their laundry in before it rains, or chasing and replacing the garbage can lid that blew away in the wind, do it just cuz.