21 Rules to Live By: A Pathway to Personal Growth by Steve Ferber

Author:Steve Ferber [Ferber, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: River Publishing LLC
Published: 2014-07-28T07:00:00+00:00

The Author’s Friends Share Their Thoughts

In a bid to learn how others think, the author assembled a panel of 30 friends (psychologists and social workers among them) to answer some of life’s most penetrating questions. Excerpts of their answers appear below.

The author asked his friends:

What kind act have you done lately?

“I had my students write me paragraphs about themselves to get them familiar with saving files and using the printer, but I really like hearing about the kids’ lives and hobbies, etc. I was very touched at the personal things kids wrote to me. I am a perfect stranger to almost all of them, but they all wrote personal things besides the usual info. I have four students who have had parents die in the last year and several who have lost parents as youngsters.

“One girl wrote about missing her mother who is in Korea and can’t come here to live with them. One girl wrote about not being able to get a parking permit, as a senior, because she was late turning in the form. One boy complained about not having time to get a locker. He is a senior, and they weren’t given lockers because there aren’t enough. The school figured that seniors could request a locker in writing if they really wanted one, but this young man, who recently is in remission with cancer, has to change into his football gear and be at practice on time or he won’t get playing time, etc.

“So, I decided that since my kids were so honest and personal, I would try and help some of them solve their problems. I went to the security officer’s office and got a locker for the young man and I got the last available parking space on the campus for the young lady who didn’t get a parking space.

“I can’t do a lot for the kids without parents except be kind and gentle and hope they’ll let me know if I can do something specific for them. We have a lot of young people under great stress -- some from their own making, but most from conditions they cannot control.” -- Gail C.

* * *

“On Mother’s Day I was in the restroom at a fancy hotel, wrapping gifts that were to be presented to [our] loving mothers within minutes. In walked a women with a 6-8 month old child that had a very dirty diaper. She didn’t have any of the necessary equipment to change the child except for a new diaper and a wipe or two. Once I noticed what the situation, I offered to help by supplying her with tissue paper to rest the baby on, as well as wet papertowels with some soapy water. That was what I considered to be a kind gesture towards a total stranger.

“When I think about the kindnesses I offer my family and friends, I notice that most are geared towards [my husband]. The other night I could tell he had a lot on his mind and I randomly offered him a backrub without asking for one in return.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.