Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Karmacat

Congratulations! And ice tea sound lovely, just hits the spot

Firewalker

Tonight we celebrated - finishing the paper and life generally. We walked to a big park where we played badminton (well DS3 and OH did) and had copious amount of beer and chips. Lovely and I feel a bit light headed.

I had a day of complete rest - no writing whatsoever and reading only my novel. My only slight worry is that my leg feels numb at places; may go to the hospital tomorrow to check whether this is normal or not.

It is very hot - and tomorrow will rock as well.

Firewalker

Happytogetdebtfree

Hi firewalker i am loving reading your blog its very good xx

Firewalker

Happytogetdebtfree wrote: »

Hi firewalker i am loving reading your blog its very good xx

Thanks, Happy. I love writing it and getting together a resource which is fun and accessible.

FW

Happytogetdebtfree

Its definatley food for thought ... ive got myself upto date and ive enjoyed the reading look forward to reading more

Firewalker

Good day, my friends. Today I spent sometime fading a wonderful thread on the DFW Forum - it is about acts of kindness. It is a celebration of the human spirit and cooperation. Interesting and inspiring read; only thing is that there is a feeling that things are 'not as they used to be' and that most acts of kindness are in the past.

They are not; we still meet and pass forward kindness all the time. When was the last time you did something nice for a stranger? I remembered today something that I did here, in Sofia, about fifteen years ago. I was out and there are many really high class shops around our apartment - it is in a nice part of the city. It was winter (probably Christmas) and very cold. In front of one of the shops there was an elderly lady selling newspapers - she was frozen and she looked like she should be at home, warm in front of the tv or with a good book. I remember giving her the equivalent of £20 and asking her to go home and get something to eat. I often wonder what happened to her - but bless her she broke my heart. Was my action patronising? Were I wealthy I could have done something more, better and more sustainable. When I could walk in the city centre I still gave quite a bit to begging older people - and it has to be said most of the people who beg here are old.

I cannot remember any dramatic good that has been done to me but people are generally decent. All of you who read my diary and offer support and opinion, for instance. Socrates said a long time ago that 'there is a sun in every man, we just have to give it the opportunity to shine.' I am with him on this one.

What is the good you do or wish to be able to do?

Firewalker

Triciaxx

I don't think "things are 'not as they used to be' and that most acts of kindness are in the past."

There is a concept I have come across several times recently which I like. Someone does some kindness and you thank them and they say "Just pay it forward to someone else."

I think we all see the past with rose coloured glasses - for instance, I know that the sun shone all summer when I was a child and the snow never went the nasty brown slushy mess it does nowadays.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Take care and don't overdo it, FW.

Firewalker

Triciaxx wrote: »

There is a concept I have come across several times recently which I like. Someone does some kindness and you thank them and they say "Just pay it forward to someone else."

I love this one as well. But I also think that our lives will be much more pleasant and exciting if we all realise that one of our missions is life is to make other people's lives easier, better and more enjoyable.

Can you just imagine? You tell someone that you would like to achieve something and they don't go 'You can't do that!' or 'You can't have it.' or 'I am busy now and can't deal with it.'. But smile and say 'How can I help so you get what you want?'.

Firewalker

MrsMoo2U

I too had a read of that thread. Some years ago I came across "join me" It was a group of people who set out to do random acts of kindness. The whole thing came about when the journalist (now author and film maker) Danny Wallace posted an advert in a local paper just saying join me with a post box. He wanted to see what would happen and he got lots of answers. Decided he should do something so set the task to do random acts of kindness on a Friday and set up a forum. It was amazing (i dont know if it still exists). There were some amazing stories on there.
I like to treat people how I would like to be treated (it was instilled in me as a child too) and so if I see somebody that I can help I will. Some of the things that I have done recently include, giving somebody my parking ticket with several hours still on it, I paid the train fare for a young girl who didnt have enough money (the conductor was telling her she had to get off at the next stop so I also wrote a letter of compaint). I have received some lovely acts of kindness in my time. One day I was attending a meeting in a strange town and I had to pay for the car park but did not have enough change. I was running late for my meeting and the car park did not have an attendant. A lady paid for my parking ticket and when I asked for her address to send the money back to her she refused. Just recently I received a bouquet of flowers delivered to my house by an ex colleague because he had just remembered something that I had done once and wanted to remind me by saying thank you. That was lovely.

I dont believe that people are not willing to do these things, I just think that we are all living our lives at such a fast pace we dont always take the time to be mindful of those around us and to see their needs or find time to help.

Memory_Girl

Firewalker wrote: »

Can you just imagine? You tell someone that you would like to achieve something and they don't go 'You can't do that!' or 'You can't have it.' or 'I am busy now and can't deal with it.'. But smile and say 'How can I help so you get what you want?'.

Firewalker

Sound's like a Matrixette

And good deeds are not just in the past - only this past week someone left a much lusted for baking bowl on my doorstep (old style biscuit coloured one with white lining)

One of my old dears gave me her old wool stash - I now have so much great quality wool to knit stuff for the boys.

One of my Mums friends delivered a roll (about 55 metres) of waist elastic to me on Sunday because she heard I was doing some sewing for the boys and wanted it to go somewhere it could be used.

So in honour of this, your comments and the thread mentioned, the Mfi3 blog will start with a plea to "Pay it Forward" - because we don't need a political "Big Society" to make a better society - one kindness at a time.

Thanks for the inspiration

MG