Although media loves to strangle our impressionable emotions with negativity, good happens all the time.
About three weeks ago I lost my much beloved Swiss Army knife. Males know pocket knives are an extension of our hands. It had two sharp blades, a toothpick, can openers, screwdriver, tweezers, cork screw, and my favorite - scissors. My students are amazed with it. I use it nearly every day in class. I have only lost a Swiss Army once before – at San Francisco airport. TSA took it because I forgot it in my pocket – errrr.
What to do? I went on EBay, put in a bid for a similar one and for $5.25 I won. The seller sent me an apologetic email. “Sorry, although you had the highest bid, by an error on my part I sold it to someone else. I will return your payment and send you a similar Swiss Army for free. Again – sorry.”
On Friday I looked in the mailbox, my Swiss Army knife arrived. Looks brand new. The stainless steel blades shine. Edges are razor sharp. Truth be told it’s waaaay better than the one I lost. I love it. What an ethical seller.
Mark up one for the good of humanity.
Three months ago I parked my car with the intent to bring my dog for a walk. A rather large guy with a huge Boxer walked over to me and sheepishly asked, “Can I please use your cell phone?”
“What’s up?”
“Locked my keys and cell phone in the car. Just need to call my girlfriend. She’ll bring the spare key.”
“Is she nearby?”
“Fisherman’s Wharf.”
I thought. It’s a sunny day. I just finished class. “Let me walk my dog for fifteen minutes and I’ll drive you there and back.”
“Wow. You sure? Mind if my dog and I walk with you?”
“No problems. It’s a sunny day. Yeah, please walk with us.”
The dogs sniffed each others’ butts, approved, and off we went for a pleasant walk. Later I drove them to the wharf. The guy came back with his key, dog, and a big manila envelope. He got in the car and handed me the envelope.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Two free Whale Watch tickets. Worth $80.”
“Unnecessary you know.”
“You didn’t have to give us a ride - twice. My girlfriends family owns the whale watch company and she’s wouldn’t have had the time to close the shop and give me the key.”
“Okay then. Thank you very much.”
So two big red checks for a positive, good-spirited humanity.
One more. A few years back I was in a coffee shop in Monterey. Friends and I were politicking for or against Obama or Hillary. I said, “Hillary can win the democratic nomination. But she won’t win a presidential election.”
A tourist at another table came over and said, “I overheard what you just said. And there is no way Obama will win the nomination and the Presidency.”
“Well, I think he will. But to be honest I want Hillary.”
“Want to put $100 on it.”
“Okay.” So we exchanged addresses.
Long story short. After the election I got a letter from Pennsylvania and there was $100 bill in it.
There are a lot of good things happening all around us. They happen to you. They happen to me. Soon I will go on my free Whale Watch ride in Monterey Bay. I will hold on very tightly to my new Swiss Army knife and hopefully Hillary will be President in 2016.
Things can be good.