Wife and children not included... those are people that you mold and are molded by every day... I want a single act of kindness that really made a change in somebody's life that doesn't live with you.
What is the biggest difference you have ever made in another person's life?
- Thread starter Jfrag Teh Foul
- Start date
<< If I can't count saving my wife's life when she tried to commit suicide, then none.
amish >>
If that's all you've accomplished in life, then I'd say you've been successful thus far.
Viper GTS
<< If I can't count saving my wife's life when she tried to commit suicide, then none. >>
Whoa... my bad... That definitely counts!
Maetryx
Diamond Member
- Jan 18, 2001
- 4,849
- 1
- 81
In high school, there was a kid that was a little nerdly, a little quiet, kind of tall, and maybe a bit socially awkward. Nothing severe, but noticeable. I worked at the grocery store in town at the time, with a couple of boys a grade above me. Anyway, this quiet kid gets a job there too. And the vultures started circling. One night at closing time, me and one of the other veteran courtesy clerks were walking to our cars, while the new, quiet guy was walking to his car on the opposite side of the lot.
The veteran courtesy clerk started in with a scowl, saying "What do you think of that new guy?" The message was delivered with facial expressions and tone of voice. The right answer would have been, "Yeah, I don't know about that guy. He sure is weird (or he sucks, or whatever)" Instead, I had a sudden inspiration. I understood what a divisive, vile personality my companion had always and exhibited and decided it would stop here. So I said, "Oh, I really like that new guy."
I turned and walked away from that sour fellow and crossed the parking lot to where the new guy was parked. Basically I became friends with the new guy, and added him to my "circle". The friendship lasted several years. We're still friends, but haven't seen each other much since highschool. But I'm relatively certain that it made a difference in his life. He became much more outgoing, and I believe he enjoyed the last two years of highschool much more than his first two. Kind of no big deal, I know. I tell the story because I remember the turning point, one rainy night in the parking lot at Thriftway in Veneta, Oregon.
The veteran courtesy clerk started in with a scowl, saying "What do you think of that new guy?" The message was delivered with facial expressions and tone of voice. The right answer would have been, "Yeah, I don't know about that guy. He sure is weird (or he sucks, or whatever)" Instead, I had a sudden inspiration. I understood what a divisive, vile personality my companion had always and exhibited and decided it would stop here. So I said, "Oh, I really like that new guy."
I turned and walked away from that sour fellow and crossed the parking lot to where the new guy was parked. Basically I became friends with the new guy, and added him to my "circle". The friendship lasted several years. We're still friends, but haven't seen each other much since highschool. But I'm relatively certain that it made a difference in his life. He became much more outgoing, and I believe he enjoyed the last two years of highschool much more than his first two. Kind of no big deal, I know. I tell the story because I remember the turning point, one rainy night in the parking lot at Thriftway in Veneta, Oregon.
I taught English to JHS students in Japan for 2 years.
A couple students came up to me after taking HS entrance exams and told me if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have liked and studied English much. Hopefully, I made some difference. But then again, some of my students got pregnant (not by me) in my JHS too and dropped out.
A couple students came up to me after taking HS entrance exams and told me if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have liked and studied English much. Hopefully, I made some difference. But then again, some of my students got pregnant (not by me) in my JHS too and dropped out.
<< i haven't made a difference for anyone -----yet. going into law enforcement i am sure that will change at one point. >>
Cool, good choice to be a cop... the only problem is that the differences that you make in ppl's lives (as a cop) will usually not get appreciated.
I congratulate you though!
pyonir
Lifer
- Dec 18, 2001
- 40,856
- 321
- 126
<<
<< i haven't made a difference for anyone -----yet. going into law enforcement i am sure that will change at one point. >>
Cool, good choice to be a cop... the only problem is that the differences that you make in ppl's lives (as a cop) will usually not get appreciated.
I congratulate you though!
>>Thank you. i'm doing it for the appreciation to be recognized, as long as i make a difference for the good in ONE life that is fine with me. I'll know what i have done, and the person that benefits from it will know too.
My dad owns two convience stores in my area. I work there occasionally when he has a no show or needs extra help. There was this one chick that worked there that everybody didn't like. She was loud and always seemed to feel she had to impress everyone. She was the kind of person that always had to top your story, you know?
She used to talk about how she was scared of her boyfriend. She said that he had a bad temper and was prone to violence. Everyone there just blew it off as her usual lies. Then one week she shows up saying that she has left him. She had moved out after her had slapped her around. (She was about 100 lbs soaking wet and he was bigger than me, about 250 or so). She said that she didn't tell any of her friends where she had moved to because she was afraid he would come after her.
That Thursday night I had to stay late because one of the managers had called in sick. She was getting of at 9 and the store was open untill 10, so I was still stuck there. She walks out and heads for her car when her boyfriend pops out from around the corner, slaps the piss out of her, then grabs her by the arm. He starts hauling her towards her car saying they needed to talk. She starts screaming and asking for help. I go running out there and tell hime to let her go. He looks at me and says "If you try to stop me I'll f***in kill you. " I'll never forget that moment in my life as long as I live.
I run back into the store and grab my dads pistol that he keeps in his office. I run back out just as he pushes her into the car. I tell him again to leave her alone. He turns around and sees I have the pistol and stops. I tell him to let her go and get the f88k outta here. He turns around and walks off. After I get her out of the car and lock the store up I called the cops. She pressed charges for assault. He got arrested about 3 hours later. They also found pot and a .22 pistol on him when they pulled him over. He's still in jail at this very moment. I guees she would probably have been raped and very probably gotten the hell beaten out of her.
I still think a lot about that. People always say they would shoot someone that was harming there family or friends, but let me tell ya when you are looking down the barrel it is a lot harder choice. I think if he had started coming towards me he would have needed a new kneecap though.
She used to talk about how she was scared of her boyfriend. She said that he had a bad temper and was prone to violence. Everyone there just blew it off as her usual lies. Then one week she shows up saying that she has left him. She had moved out after her had slapped her around. (She was about 100 lbs soaking wet and he was bigger than me, about 250 or so). She said that she didn't tell any of her friends where she had moved to because she was afraid he would come after her.
That Thursday night I had to stay late because one of the managers had called in sick. She was getting of at 9 and the store was open untill 10, so I was still stuck there. She walks out and heads for her car when her boyfriend pops out from around the corner, slaps the piss out of her, then grabs her by the arm. He starts hauling her towards her car saying they needed to talk. She starts screaming and asking for help. I go running out there and tell hime to let her go. He looks at me and says "If you try to stop me I'll f***in kill you. " I'll never forget that moment in my life as long as I live.
I run back into the store and grab my dads pistol that he keeps in his office. I run back out just as he pushes her into the car. I tell him again to leave her alone. He turns around and sees I have the pistol and stops. I tell him to let her go and get the f88k outta here. He turns around and walks off. After I get her out of the car and lock the store up I called the cops. She pressed charges for assault. He got arrested about 3 hours later. They also found pot and a .22 pistol on him when they pulled him over. He's still in jail at this very moment. I guees she would probably have been raped and very probably gotten the hell beaten out of her.
I still think a lot about that. People always say they would shoot someone that was harming there family or friends, but let me tell ya when you are looking down the barrel it is a lot harder choice. I think if he had started coming towards me he would have needed a new kneecap though.
Most of it is kind of personal but lets just say I try to make a difference whenever possible, and I've had my share of successes and failures.
i would really rather not know... i try not to think of these things. it feels too weird to think i'm somehow influencing others
Pepsei
Lifer
- Dec 14, 2001
- 12,895
- 1
- 0
<< My dad owns two convience stores ...
.... I still think a lot about that. People always say they would shoot someone that was harming there family or friends, but let me tell ya when you are looking down the barrel it is a lot harder choice. I think if he had started coming towards me he would have needed a new kneecap though. >>
good one, i don't know if i had the cool to just aim for the kneecap.... i'm leaning towards if i need to shoot a scum like that, i aim for the head...
GTaudiophile
Lifer
- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
I've saved two female friends from committing suicide.
In the case of best friends, I've always been there to give them advice on life-altering decisions.
In the case of best friends, I've always been there to give them advice on life-altering decisions.
<<
<<
<< If I can't count saving my wife's life when she tried to commit suicide, then none.
amish >>
If that's all you've accomplished in life, then I'd say you've been successful thus far.
Viper GTS >>
i agree with you viper.... Amish- you're a good man. >>
hmmm, maybe she was trying to get away from Amish, and he just kept her from doing that.
Geekbabe
Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
I like to think there are a number of instances, but I can say one that's always stood out in my mind.
Back in my marching band days when I was a fiery-eyed drum major, at the end of a long rehearsal in the beginning of the season, the parents would all park their cars in this one lot and wait for us to come up from the field, and we usually put on a little bit of pomp for them doing drill moves and chants and all that kind of stuff.
Anyway as I'm barking orders and berating our vile rivals (The Florence Lightning), I notice this kid like 9 or 10 years old standing off to the side kinda trying to play along. He realized that I saw him and got all embarassed. No reason a young kid should be embarassed for acting like a kid! So I walked over to the boy and asked him his name and if he wanted to join my regiment.
Of course, he nodded enthusiastically
So I gave him a short primer on how to stand at attention and gave him a place among the ranks where he stood as a proud soldier until I finished bellowing fire.
I'll never forget the look of pride on his face
Well, I dunno if it made an impact on him today, but I hope it did. It's a moment I'll never forget, because I felt like I touched one person's life.
Back in my marching band days when I was a fiery-eyed drum major, at the end of a long rehearsal in the beginning of the season, the parents would all park their cars in this one lot and wait for us to come up from the field, and we usually put on a little bit of pomp for them doing drill moves and chants and all that kind of stuff.
Anyway as I'm barking orders and berating our vile rivals (The Florence Lightning), I notice this kid like 9 or 10 years old standing off to the side kinda trying to play along. He realized that I saw him and got all embarassed. No reason a young kid should be embarassed for acting like a kid! So I walked over to the boy and asked him his name and if he wanted to join my regiment.
Of course, he nodded enthusiastically
So I gave him a short primer on how to stand at attention and gave him a place among the ranks where he stood as a proud soldier until I finished bellowing fire.
I'll never forget the look of pride on his face
Well, I dunno if it made an impact on him today, but I hope it did. It's a moment I'll never forget, because I felt like I touched one person's life.
I've been told by several friends that I've saved their lives at various times, either by being there for them physically or there for them to talk to.
*shrug*
*shrug*
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