Simple Generousity

[English Mike]

The other day I was at some outlet shops in Izmir, we had got there by Dolmus. When the girls had finished their shopping (I purchased only socks) one of the girls asked a nice old gentleman if the Dolmus' ran down the road we were on. He said it was a bit of a walk to the Dolmus road and where were we going - we told him and he said "that's no distance, hop in my car and I'll drive you there" we said it wasn't a problem to which he replied "I'm an old man with nothing to do - it will help me to pass time" upon delivery he looked for no cash; he had simply done this out of friendliness.

Burasi Turkiye

[Verjen]

Kindness thrives in the most unexpected places. The old man's kindness will come back to him when he least expects. And kindness does pass our hours in the best sort of ways.

[Textanbul]

Cool story, EM. Thanks for sharing. It's good to hear a 'burasi Turkiye' story occasionally that doesn't involve some f*cked up anecdote.

(I have a positive one of my own from an unfortunate taxi ride home from Thirsty Thursday last night, but will save it for another time)

[pollyanna]

I love hearing stories like that.

We have that happen so much in our lives here. Don't forget you can be on the giving end, too. Mr Polly often stops the car when he sees an old person carrying a heavy shopping load or something and offers them a lift to where they're going. Such a thing would never have occurred to me (and admittedly still doesn't come second nature), but I'm learning.

[trek99]

Our local fruit shop/market gives us the broccoli leaves (from the bottom of the broc and the boxes it comes in) to give to my rabbit to eat. All winter little Pamuk was the best fed bunny around.
It started them they asked me one day why I was buying so much parsley, and they told me to stop buying food for him when I can have the brocolli leaves for free! I was amazed that they were happy to sell less product and give me other stuff for free!

They will never take money or anything for the leaves, they just kept saying, 'everything is useful and should not be wasted'.

Lovely people!!

[Verjen]

Yesterday, after receiving some second-hand goods from another forum member, I started lugging the stuff upstairs. As I huffed and puffed with the first item, the old gent who lives upstairs from me was going to prayer. Instead of toddling out the door, he grabbed a bag and brought it two flights upstairs as I was going down to get it. Despite my protests, he continued helping until all the goods were actually inside my door. When the bag containing the shelving broke, he rushed down to help me. And then he took the small bag of trash I had had put outside. He has no expectations of rewards. Simply, he is a godly man.

[Jonny]

I'll bet you didn't protest too much.

[Helena]

There is 'goodness' all around....we just have to be open to it. And Pollyanna is right....be on the giving end when possible.

[Melody]

Very nice story Verjen.

And yes, Pollyanna, thanks for reminding us that we can be on the giving end as well. It's really a great feeling to give without expecting something in return. Just to do a good deed, or a nice or thoughtful little gesture.

Which on an ever so slightly related note, our cleaning lady is fasting today for Ramazan. And we had a little talk this morning about it's significance etc. and she said it's ok if i don't fast as long as i give to the poor-or something to that effect. I said it's ok i'm going straight to hell anyway. she didn't appreciate the (albeit bad) joke. but that did make me think. can one buy their way out of Ramazan? And into heaven?
I mean, it's a good deed, but isn't the motivation wrong?

Anyway back to the topic at hand. There are some lovely people in Buyukada who walk around with eye drops and other medications, dry cat and dog food, etc. and just take care of strays in need along their walks. They also come back to check on them. Just concerned citizens. If they need medical help they pick them up and bring the to the vet. Just kind folk who can't see an animal in need and do nothing about it. Too bad there aren't more folks like that.

[bhaklava]

can one buy their way out of Ramazan?

Sort of. I can't fast because of medical reasons, so I give money to a charity or directly to someone, usually our cleaning woman. If there is a reason you are exempt from fasting - medical problems, pregnancy, etc - you are obligated to pay the cost of feeding someone for each day of Ramazan. It's announced by the mosques what the amount is per day you have to pay. Our cleaning woman was thrilled a couple years ago when she found out that she can accept money from me for not fasting - apparently she saw a show with some guy explaining the income level cut off for people who can accept the payments and those who have to make them.