Julietta Posted March 6, 2003 Posted March 6, 2003 This was sent me via email and really makes you think...... 1 - The Most Important Lesson During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. 2 - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others." Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole 3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve. In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip. 4 - Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. 5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. You see, after all, understanding and attitude are everything. Now you have 2 choices.... 1. Delete this email, or 2. Forward it to people you care about. I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember..... "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like nobody's watching." Let calm be widespread May the sea glisten like greenstone And the shimmer of summer Dance across your pathway "Communication is a two way thing"
Arctic Posted March 6, 2003 Posted March 6, 2003 I usually don't read this kind of things but this really made me think. Bert What's all the fuss about?
Firefox Posted March 6, 2003 Posted March 6, 2003 Some truths of couse but I hate those chain type emails. People put something good together and then almost beg you to forward it, trying to prick your conscience if you don't.
squirrelheels Posted March 6, 2003 Posted March 6, 2003 Yeah, it made me think too. I don't like things like that that circulate the internet forever, it's a waste of bandwidth. Far more sensible to put them on a website. Smart move, Julie! Very good words indeed... SH Hi! I'm a signature virus! Copy me into your sig and help me spread!
Yamyam Posted March 7, 2003 Posted March 7, 2003 I also don't like being emailed this stuff. But finding it here - well, it's made me read carefully, think about the contents, and take that along with me. Thanks Julietta! Obsessed is such a strong word. I prefer to think of myself as "differently enthusiastic"
Firefox Posted March 7, 2003 Posted March 7, 2003 Likewise, though I thought some of the examples were a little "made up" Eg The blood transfusion. Would we really see the colour coming into her face while it drained out of his. And wouldn't they take the blood from him and give it to her in a seperate operation, rather than they were like side by side. Did it come with a little midi file with soft pianos and violins playing background accompanyment Also, exactly which "king" in "ancient times" had nothing better to do than go around placing boulders with gold coins under them. I know it's the principle that counts but I can't help analysing things! The worst example of this kind of email says somthing like: Forward it to one person and you will be smiled upon, forward it to 5 and you will enter heaven, forward it to 10 and you will find true love etc etc.
hoverfly Posted March 7, 2003 Posted March 7, 2003 Some truths of couse but I hate those chain type emails. People put something good together and then almost beg you to forward it, trying to prick your conscience if you don't. Oh come on Fox how can you be pressured in to something like this? Just delete it. Where is the pressure? Why? do you feel guilty? It's nice to be reminded of certain values in life. I liked it.. Hello, my name is Hoverfly. I’m a high heel addict…. Weeeeeeeeeee! 👠1998 to 2022!
PJ Posted March 7, 2003 Posted March 7, 2003 I do enjoy reading these kinds of stories. I would enjoy them more if they were not fiction. But I agree with FireFox. Some, if not many of these kind of stories are made up to make a point. I guess it's because we don't have too many good stories to go around that give you hope and make you think. How sad. click .... click .... click .... The sensual sound of stiletto heels on a hard surface.
Julietta Posted March 7, 2003 Author Posted March 7, 2003 Sorry Firefox, I meant to actually delete the bottom part but forgot. I agree it does prick the conscience to pass these things on and kind of puts a negative on what otherwise makes a good point and makes you think. I just thought this was a good example and whether true or not gives us a little jolt back to basics sometimes. Do you know what amazes me with all this? That to all my emotional posts it seems that it is the men that are more forward in answering and responding. It's fantastic I really like this board the people on here (especially the men) are unique Julie xx Let calm be widespread May the sea glisten like greenstone And the shimmer of summer Dance across your pathway "Communication is a two way thing"
Yamyam Posted March 9, 2003 Posted March 9, 2003 Do you know what amazes me with all this? That to all my emotional posts it seems that it is the men that are more forward in answering and responding. It's fantastic I really like this board the people on here (especially the men) are unique Julie xx Ooh, ta (IRL: blushes) Perhaps us men here are more used to breaking the mould, as we're all breaking away from social norms from the knees down Obsessed is such a strong word. I prefer to think of myself as "differently enthusiastic"
Firefox Posted March 9, 2003 Posted March 9, 2003 To be fair most of the people here are men. I don't think there are that many women, maybe 5-10%? But I think it's true that all the men I've met in real life from this board are the feeling, intelligent types. Ie we've got an automatic meathead filter in here somewhere!
gary0618 Posted January 8, 2005 Posted January 8, 2005 I just wanted to bring this post back up. The Five Lessons are worth reading once again. FLAT SHOES, LIKE FLAT DRINKS, ARE FOR FLAT PEOPLE
xaphod Posted January 11, 2005 Posted January 11, 2005 Actually I missed that .... thanks for that, Gary. It brought a tear to the eye of an old cynic ! Xa
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