Nice things do happen

[PennLady]

We all rant about bad things, so here are a few little but nice things that happened to me today.

Took my kids to a birthday party at one of those bounce places. It was kind of small and last-minute but the kids had a great time. As we were leaving, it became clear that there were more kids than goodie bags, and PennGirl was on the outside. One of the older girls gave hers to PennGirl.

I went up to get sandwiches at the deli for me and Mr Penn for dinner. Believe it or not, even in the 21st century, I found myself sans a way to pay. No wallet, no cash, no cards. The gentleman at the register printed a receipt, took my name, and said come back when you can and pay it and don't worry about doing it right now.

To tie it together, I had left my wallet at the bounce place. I called them to ask, they immediately called back and said they had it. Whew! Mr Penn has gone to retrieve the wallet and pay the bill.

So, it's just nice to know those things still happen. I think I will save those for a story.

 

[lovecraft68]

We all rant about bad things, so here are a few little but nice things that happened to me today.

Took my kids to a birthday party at one of those bounce places. It was kind of small and last-minute but the kids had a great time. As we were leaving, it became clear that there were more kids than goodie bags, and PennGirl was on the outside. One of the older girls gave hers to PennGirl.

I went up to get sandwiches at the deli for me and Mr Penn for dinner. Believe it or not, even in the 21st century, I found myself sans a way to pay. No wallet, no cash, no cards. The gentleman at the register printed a receipt, took my name, and said come back when you can and pay it and don't worry about doing it right now.

To tie it together, I had left my wallet at the bounce place. I called them to ask, they immediately called back and said they had it. Whew! Mr Penn has gone to retrieve the wallet and pay the bill.

So, it's just nice to know those things still happen. I think I will save those for a story.

There's till a lot of good people out there(the little girl being generous to your daughter tells of good parents as well) it's just that in most things the bad always gets more play.

I think it's very telling that something like this is mentioned as if its shocking and it certainly shouldn't be, but we, as a society, really seemed conditioned for the worst these days and almost surprised at acts of kindness.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

I do like to think that people are good.

And it's a lot easier to remember shit than sunshine, so it's easier to think that everything is worse than it is.

 

[PennLady]

I firmly believe that the good outweighs the bad, but yes, the bad gets more play. If it bleeds, it leads, as they say (said?) for the news.

So I just wanted to balance out the bad news with a little good.

 

[estragon]

Couldn't happen to a nicer lady and her family.

 

[sethp]

That is nice!

There are still really nice people in the world.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

yay, PL--glad to see that the A/C issues didn't set a really bad precedent for the day!

 

[desertslave]

I firmly believe that the good outweighs the bad, but yes, the bad gets more play. If it bleeds, it leads, as they say (said?) for the news.

So I just wanted to balance out the bad news with a little good.

Do you (generic readers) think this is a common trait among people? I'm just asking because my mom used to be rather Pollyanna-ish, but lately she seems to hold on to the negative and overlook the positive. I believe that she's in the early stages of Alzheimer's, which appears to affect her perception of social situations. She'll come away from a fairly simple, non-confrontational interaction and later interpret it as negative. In addition, she gets very hostile if she's corrected about her misconceptions. I wonder if it's just 'typical humanity' overruling her younger outlook.

 

[TE999]

Most folks are good and kind PL and like you say, they get no ink.

For example; Last week I went to a big box home improvement store to buy some supplies for a project. While I was loading my truck I overlooked two items on the lower level of the shopping cart, then remembered them when I was halfway home. I went back figuring they'd be stolen, but the cashier had them by her register saying one of the employees had retrieved them and figured I'd be back for them sooner or later.

 

[sun_sea_sky]

Do you (generic readers) think this is a common trait among people?

I believe most people are nice. And there is a solid reason for that belief. What do we see on the News? Murders, rapes, robberies, bashings. Why are they newsworthy? Because they are unusual.

Google something like "top causes of death".

You are much, much more likely to die of heart disease than be mugged, be in a plane crash, or abducted by terrorists. But because it is so common, it doesn't make the News, and if we hear about it we just tune it out. Meanwhile we get frightened by shark attacks or muggings, which are very rare.

It's the same with honesty. Good, honest people are all around us. But they don't make the News.

 

[YDB95]

Although I'm not known for being a particularly optimistic person, I do believe most people will do the right thing most of the time. And it's nice to hear proof like this!

 

[damppanties]

Do you (generic readers) think this is a common trait among people?

I think this is a glass half full vs. half empty issue.

I'm just asking because my mom used to be rather Pollyanna-ish, but lately she seems to hold on to the negative and overlook the positive. I believe that she's in the early stages of Alzheimer's, which appears to affect her perception of social situations. She'll come away from a fairly simple, non-confrontational interaction and later interpret it as negative. In addition, she gets very hostile if she's corrected about her misconceptions. I wonder if it's just 'typical humanity' overruling her younger outlook.

Perceptions and worldviews are interesting things. What you said in your post about your mother... my father is going through the same thing right now. Disillusionment with the world, people around him, depression, etc. and his worldview has changed from being optimistic to mostly pessimistic. In his case, it's not Alzheimer's but some professional as well as personal setbacks. I think his change in perception happened due to circumstances, not age.

 

[Tricialen]

I think that most people are good, with good hearts, and intentions. And that miracles happen everyday.

I am happy that you had a happy ending to a very happy day.

 

[nicecthulhu]

Do you (generic readers) think this is a common trait among people?

Glad to hear of happy things happening instead of the usual gloom and doom that gets broadcasted everywhere.
Yes, kindness, honesty and good deeds are the common trait, but as others have said these actions usually don't get noticed. Also, people forget, people get grumpy, people make mistakes. People do things to others and wish they could make it better right away, but dig themselves in deeper over silly things like pride and fear.
There are vicious, greedy, hurtful people out there, but the silent majority are good, honest people who try to raise their kids right, do unto others as they would have done to themselves (I don't recollect the exact wording), make sacrifices for their friends and families. If this wasn't the case then we would have total anarchy around the world.

 

[TinyBeth]

I tend towards being a very negative person so it always makes me happy to see proof of a better world and better people. Thank you!

 

[RjThoughts]

We all rant about bad things, so here are a few little but nice things that happened to me today.

Took my kids to a birthday party at one of those bounce places. It was kind of small and last-minute but the kids had a great time. As we were leaving, it became clear that there were more kids than goodie bags, and PennGirl was on the outside. One of the older girls gave hers to PennGirl.

I went up to get sandwiches at the deli for me and Mr Penn for dinner. Believe it or not, even in the 21st century, I found myself sans a way to pay. No wallet, no cash, no cards. The gentleman at the register printed a receipt, took my name, and said come back when you can and pay it and don't worry about doing it right now.

To tie it together, I had left my wallet at the bounce place. I called them to ask, they immediately called back and said they had it. Whew! Mr Penn has gone to retrieve the wallet and pay the bill.

So, it's just nice to know those things still happen. I think I will save those for a story.

Karma ain't always a bitch. She can be nice once in a while

 

[YoursSINSerely]

Nice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE