Found Not Lost

Trent at The Simple Dollar asked, Does one bad experience spoil the soup? He is referring to our adverse reaction to certain brands or establishments as a result of one unpleasant experience that we pretty much boycott the product altogether.

That reminded me of all the whining I’ve been doing lately about the inconvenience of traveling nowadays. I whined about the higher prices, the luggage, the extra fees, I whined about the delays. But you know what, I think most of us expect that now. We don’t really expect first class treatment in coach anymore. Actually, I think even first class travelers will agree that the overall service of commercial flights have been declining every year. Even with all the things I complained about, they weren’t enough to make me stop flying altogether. It’s just too much of a necessity. I will still be flying commercial planes. I can’t afford to fly any other way.

However, I can avoid certain airlines. DELTA specifically. I don’t have to fly with them, they don’t offer anything more than what I can get from other airlines anyway. I am not going to fly with them anymore not because of high prices, luggage fees or delays. I’m not flying with them anymore because of one bad experience with one bad employee at one remote airport counter. It’s probably an isolated event, and maybe, I’m being a bit unfair but an experience with them still left a bad taste in my mouth and I can’t, in good conscience, keep giving them what little money I have to spend.

Here’s why…
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My daughter started a volunteer job at our local library today. She will be working in the historical archives section, most likely photocopying and scanning materials for the digital archive. This is what she will be doing for most of the summer. She won’t be getting paid but she is excited because she knows she will be getting more out of this than a measly pay check.

Some benefits for having young people volunteering:

• They increase their knowledge and experience of real life and the world
• They get an opportunity to contribute to their community and become part of it
• They learn to be more independent
• They learn decision making skills
• They learn to care about someone else’s needs
• They learn compassion
• Their volunteer activities will make them a more rounded person
• It gives them a new perspective on life
• They learn to stand for something they believe in

The list can go on and on, but the bottom line is, they contribute to the greater whole and they are better for it.

You hear it all the time, the apathetic, “What can I do? I am only one person”. It’s a cop out, excuse me. I believe if someone really wants to do something significant in life, there is always a way to do it no matter how insurmountable it seems. I’m not being overly optimistic, all you have to do is look at the RD.com - Make Your Mark section of the Reader’s Digest website.

If you need inspiration, all you have to do is read about all the good things other people like you have accomplished. Everyone can make a mark, and ‘marks’ don’t have to be huge, they can be little spatters. When you look at the big picture, and see lots of little spatters you’ll soon realize that together they make one gigantic mark.

Need help getting started? Try participating in the weekly challenge instead of coming up with a project of your own. If you really want to do something and make a difference this is a good place to take that baby step.

I have been a long time subscriber of Reader’s Digest and I always find something inspiring in the magazine. If you aren’t familiar with RD, check out the Reader’s Digest Homepage and see the different sections that they cover. I’m sure you’ll find something that will interest you.

My dad is in his late sixties, not in the best of health, but doing relatively well considering the health issues he’s had. Just last month, he told me he is getting Lasik eye surgery so he won’t have to wear glasses anymore. For some reason he’s had a hard time accepting that he would be wearing eye glasses. lol! I’m not that vain. At least I don’t think so.

My sister has had the surgery before and she loved it. Gone were the pesky eye glasses and her eyes stopped having that sunken look like people who wear glasses all the time get. So, my dad went with his surgery too and everything went well. He says he can see without his glasses now, and he doesn’t even have to wear them to drive anymore. Pretty cool, pop, I told him. Now if only they would have a surgery to improve his driving.

Today is the last day of class for the girls. They took their last test this morning, and they are on summer vacation! Already, the socializing has started. First, they’ve been having parties almost after every test this week. That means, for teenagers, a sugar fest. They have been bringing a variety of sweet treats like cookies, brownies and cherry dump cake to share with their friends. No, after all those sweets they won’t be needing energy pills. They are all riding on sugar.

Jade went to lunch with her friends they they’re off to spend the afternoon at the pool. Tomorrow they one of their friends is having a birthday, so they are all going to the mall to see a movie and have dinner.

I’m getting a sinking feeling that this is just a preview of what’s to come for the rest of the summer.