Comments on: Let Someone Go Ahead of You

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:07:50 +0000

This article touched my heart. Just for today, I am going to slow down and see what’s around me.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:34:46 +0000

I am the type of person that always feels compelled to be early to work or for appointments. This gives me the time to stop and smell the flowers or wait for someone else…the upside of this is that I still am not late for work.

By: Evie

Evie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:49:52 +0000

Bravo. My husband routinely opens doors for people, little old ladies or not. On more than one occasion, people don’t even acknowledge this gesture with a “thank you”. But on the flip side, I have seen others who were genuinely shocked by the piece of common courtesy and evoked a smile and a sincere “thank you”. On the rare occasion when a young man (of say about 12 yrs) helped me in someway, without prompting, I made a point to stop his father and tell him how proud of his YOUNG MAN he should be.

I truly believe that if enough people can take the time to slow down, smile or say hello, that the ripple effect can affect the world.

By: Ann K.

Ann K. — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:56:14 +0000

I know I would have been one of the ones to open the door for the older woman but not sure if I would have taken time to listen to someone playing. I think the outcome would have been somewhat different had he been further into the mall rather than at an entryway where people were more “on a mission” to come or go, but it still makes the point.

By: CindyM

CindyM — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:02:30 +0000

The sad part is truly the mindset that you gotta push, push, push to keep up, get ahead or stay ahead. Better you teach yourself and your kids if you have them to make do with less in life, crave less “stuff” that doesn’t truly bring much pleasure. Don’t strive so hard for things you truly don’t need. It’s great to find out that maybe you don’t have to rush around so much for what little you get out of it. By all means, work hard but let it be for something truly worthwhile for somebody else, something that might have a lasting effect for everybody’s good. Give people your time. That’s my goal these days, anyway. Being on foot (no longer owning a car) has drastically changed my life and perceptions about nearly everything around me, and I like the changes.

By: The Faerie Laedie

The Faerie Laedie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:00:02 +0000

I think only in slowing down and taking the time to notice what is going on around us can we hope to change the world. How many crimes would be prevented if we all just took the time to pay attention to what goes on right in front of us? How many people’s lives could we impact if we took a moment to help those who are too shy/intimidated to ask for a hand? How much good could we all do in just one week?

Definitely food for thought. Thanks!

By: CF

CF — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:37:32 +0000

I like to help Mom’s with strollers get the door. I remember being loaded down and trying to open a door. It’s not easy. I also try to smile and wave at crying toddlers when in line at the grocery store. It often times distracts them from whatever they are upset about. It just calms everyone down!

There are lots of ways to help people…we just need to be looking for them!

By: Marzipan

Marzipan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:29:56 +0000

That was a sad article. I would have probably walked by just because of the odds. This reminds me of my reaction when I learned about the Milgram experiment. I wondered if I would have been among the majority of people who chose to administer what they thought was electrical shock of 450 volts to people. Very unsettling.

By: violet

violet — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:17:48 +0000

ilovecats has a great point. if each person did just one thing per day how much could we change the country.

i am going to try to do at least on thing each day. yesterday i went back to a door to hold it open for a mother with a small child in a stroller who was struggling against the wind with a door.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:09:25 +0000

The beginning made me sad, with the older lady. It kills me, really. I used to work at an old folks home, it always made me feel better to be helping them.