RAOK
When you look at your life and have a habit of seeing negative things like me it’s tough to find something that you’ve done that others may see as a kind act or caring on your part.
I come from a Social Work background so I’m used to giving of myself, to helping, to lending an ear and to researching information for people. It just comes naturally for me.
A few weeks ago I got an email from a friend that I’ve met online who may have Myasthenia Gravis. She’s having a really tough time getting a diagnosis. In fact she’s even having trouble to get time off from work to go to any doctors’ appointments. We’ve been keeping in touch by email as she often has questions about new symptoms she’s experiencing or just to vent about how tough it is to work a full time and part time job when all she wants to do is sleep or rest.
Anyway, she emailed me about an outing her son and daughter-in-law wanted her to attend. It was an outdoor Renaissance Festival. She was afraid to go because she didn’t know if she’d ruin their day if she started to feel weak and had trouble walking.
I told her that fear isn’t what keeps us going. It’s important to be smart about our limitations but that there’s ways around almost everything. I suggested renting a scooter or asking if someone had a travel wheelchair she could borrow, to be sure she stayed cool and out of the direct sunlight and to drink lots of water. And to GO and have fun!
She wrote back a few days later and thanked me. She really didn’t take my advice. She ended up purchasing a cane with a seat attached, but she said that I really encouraged her. She was honest with her son and d-i-l about her fears. They showed her by still taking her that they loved her and by understanding she may need to go a bit slower, rest or even leave if it got to be too much for her.
I felt so good after this. I’ve been helping her with medical info, linking her to websites and trying to help her find a neurologist but this simple act of giving her hope for one day seemed to be the most special thing I’ve done for her.
If you’d like to share your own Random Act of Kindness there’s a great contest going on at The Reality of A Brat.
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That was a really nice thing you did Connie.
I’m much the same way when it comes to helping people, and I will be going into social work! Hehe!
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