Helping Others- Track Star Meghan Vogel Carries Rival Across Finish Line

It was a brutally hot day, and a junior at West Liberty-Salem High School in Ohio, Meghan Vogel (17) was coming in last in the 3200-meter race at the 2012 Ohio State Track Meet. She had already won the 1600-meter (2 miles) race that day. As she ran the final lap she encountered another racer, Arlington High Schooler Arden McMath (16) who had collapsed under her uncooperative legs. As Arden attempted to get back up Meghan came from behind swooped her up and helped Arden to the finish line 30 meters away. Not only did she help Arden finish the race, she actually pushed her forward so that she finished 14th, instead of last.

It's not often that you see people putting others before themselves, especially those of such a young age. Meghan could have just let Arden sit there on the track, they were from competing high schools, after all. Or she could have helped the girl to the finish line but jumped in front to place 14th instead of last. But Meghan did what was right: helping someone in need. It's too bad more people don't do that, because bottom line, when we cross the 'finish line' of life we will ultimately be judged by our actions, how we have served others, not how many awards or medals we have won, or how much wealth and material things we have accumulated over a lifetime.

People are praising her for her good sportsmanship, but it's way more than that.

Good for you Meghan. You will be rewarded in many ways.





Source: HuffPo

Lesson On Patience: The Taxi Driver and The Old Lady

This story has been making the rounds on Facebook.  I'm not sure if it's true, and I rather doubt it is, but whether it is or not, it's a wonderful reminder about the importance of patience, particularly with our older generation. And how we can make a difference in someone's life by being kind, loving and patient.

As they say, patience is a virtue.

UPDATE 9/12: When I first googled this, I couldn't find any articles that referenced an actual author, they all attributed it to an anonymous writer. Thanks to the two readers below, it turns out that the story was written by Kent Nerburn in his book Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace and was actually an encounter he had as a graveyard shift taxi-driver in Minneapolis, MN in the late 1980s.  His full version of the story is published here on Huffington Post.

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'. 

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?  What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Free, Easy and Fun Ways To Give To Charity

In these challenging economic times, it's not always possible to donate money to charity, as much as we'd like to.  And we don't always know if that money is going to end up in the hands that most need it, or merely line the pockets of those who run the charitable organizations. 
We do know that giving makes us feel better:

A team from the University of British Columbia said spending as little as $5 (£2.52) on others helped.

Staff who got bonuses and spent some of the extra money on others were happier than those who spent their bonuses on themselves, the research found.

A UK psychologist said such charitable giving improved how people saw themselves - and how others saw them.

And $5.00 isn't much for an improved sense of well-being.

If you do have the money to freely give but you want to make sure the charity is worthy of your hard-earned cash, check out Charity Navigator or Charity Watch.  Both websites have rating guides to help you determine which organization you feel most comfortable supporting.

But there are other ways of 'giving' which cost nothing more than your time.

1. Volunteering: There are a zillion different organizations looking for volunteers, all you have to do is narrow down who and how you want to help, whether it's children, military vets, animals, senior citizens, or the homeless.  Check out organizations like United Way, the Humane Society, the Salvation Army, the list is endless.

2. Donate Goods:  If you have old clothes, furniture, knickknacks, kitchen items or anything that you no longer want or need, drop those off at places like Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a slew of other charities.

One of the easiest ways of donating is just a click away:

1. Freerice.com- is a fun way of donating grains of rice and helping to add to  your vocabulary at the same time.

2. Thehungersite.com- also donates food to the needy with just a click.

3. Thebreastcancersite.com- by clicking you can provide a free mammogram to women who can't afford one. You can do this once a day.

4. Care2.com- has a variety of different causes (from violence against women to saving seals) you can click to help.  You can also do this once a day.

And here's a portal website that lists a bunch of different organizations that allow you to click to donate.

Another way is to use those sites that allow you to shop for what you need and at the same time donate for nothing.

1.  shopforcharitynow.com

2.  igive.com

3. goodsearch.com

4. goodshop.com

The easiest and most hassle-free way to give to others is the 'click to give' sites, but give in any way you can. There is always someone needier than we are.

So go on, make yourself and someone in need happy.