Paying it forward (a personal story)
“The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. Strive to not be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
This morning during my usual routine of stopping at 7-11 to get my coffee, one because it was COLD and two I wanted to get my morning caffeine high. I pulled into the parking lot and saw a kid laying on the sidewalk out in front of the building. My guess this kid had to be right about my age and I am only 23. All over LA especially in the morning time you see homeless people trying to find shelter anywhere they can. According to the Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty at the Weingart Center, an estimated 254,000 men, women and children experience homelessness in Los Angeles County. That’s a ¼ of a million people!!!
I went into 7-11 and all I could was think about that kid outside because for one it was so cold out and laying on the cement made it worse I am sure. But also I imagined for a second how that must feel.. I don’t know the kids story and he didn’t look like most of the other homeless people you see. He just looked down and out on his luck. When I walked back to my car I couldn’t help myself but say to him “aren’t you cold!?” and he just looked up at my with a blank look and said “yes.” So right then and there I said take my sweatshirt I don’t need it. At first he said its ok, but I took it and gave it to him and he kindly said “thank you .” I offered him money to get some coffee or something warm to drink and he said no its ok.
I am not saying this to toot my own horn, I didn’t solve world hunger or anything but after I did this I felt so gifted and energized to have done that. At that moment I felt so energized. I have done other things in the past such as least year dressed as Santa and delivered presents to less fortunate kids on X-mas eve. But something about this just really hit home.
I do not care who you are and how much money you make. The value of a man or women should be shown but what her/she gives not by what he/she receives. Just as the quote above says from Albert Einstein. I think that is where true success lies, not just in going for your dreams and achieving them but also giving back.
Now this is not an article on success but more so on paying if forward and bettering the life of yourself and others.
I recently heard about a book called The 7 Spiritual Laws. I was reading what someone wrote about it and in one part he talks about how you can not take more than you share and gives a quote from Donald Trump that I though was so great. “If you ever win a million dollars, you better become a millionaire really quickly otherwise you WILL loose every last cent.”
Think to yourself for a moment, when you die how do you want to be remembered? How do you think people will remember you?
I know for me that I want people to say “Matt made a large impact to better life of others and himself. He will truly be missed personally and by the lives of others” To be that is success, paying it forward and living a fulfilling life. Yes I do have goals and want material possessions in life. But that is not what makes us who we are, or remembered for what we did. If you look into the past people are remembered by what they gave. So I leave you with this quote from Brian Grasso. “The only options to choose are to get better or worse. Static doesn’t exist. 95% of people choose to stay static (i.e. get worse).”
What will you do with your life starting today, starting right now to pay it forward to better the lives of others and yourself. I can guarantee you will find the happiness and success you are looking for. I know I am.
P.S. To the kid I gave the sweatshirt to, I wish you all the best.
Dedicated to your success,
Matty Holmes
“Work hard, Play hard,
TRAIN HARDER!!”
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Well Done,
I don’t know if you remember that e-mail, but you are one of the few people I admire & value. Not only for this, helping people develop themselves, but for making the decision to develop yourself.
You’re a #9 in my book!
Stay Gold,
Rene
November 24th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Rene, thank you so much! How do I get to #1 now? haha we gotta get you out to the gym soon.
Jack, thank you as well hope you were inspired.
Tony, that is bad ass you will have to let me know how it all goes with the charity and the speed camp.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 7:43 pm
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March 9th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
We are paying it forward with PIFFY.