18/6/26
What motivates you to help? Is it human compassion, abundance, social norms, validation, or simply a lifestyle?
My grandmother used to say, "Today for you, tomorrow for me."
I was just a child then, but I never liked the idea of doing things expecting something in return. I felt it was wrong, that I wasn't being honest enough.
It wasn't until last year that I realized the answer to the question, "What motivates you to help?" when I heard a friend say quietly, "I should have done it."
I helped a young man going down the stairs; he was disabled, and I simply took his arm and helped him down little by little.
After that, my friend's words kept echoing in my mind. Because I've never stopped to think about whether I'm helping or not; I just do things and only think about them as soon as I notice something.
I'm a bit absentminded, to be honest. So I don't always notice everything around me. But with things like this, when I'm not admiring the city's buildings and architecture, and I see someone who needs help, I just help them, that's all. I don't think, I don't debate, I just do it.
I don't mean to imply that I'm exceptionally kind or a wonderful person. The reality is that I'm just as mortal as everyone else; I make mistakes just like many people. I'm not exceptional at helping others.
But I believe that if you can make someone's life simpler, easier, and more beautiful, it's something worthwhile.
So I don't feel like I follow compassion, abundance, or social norms.
I'm just someone who learned from good examples.
My mother often does the same thing when we're walking down the street. My father did too. My parents have been living examples of selfless helping.
So this is something I've seen my whole life, and I do it as something that's already ingrained in me.
Regarding my grandmother...
For a long time, she held extreme views on morality; However, now that I'm an adult, I can understand many things more clearly.
Among them is the idea that everything in life is an exchange; it's part of being human to expect something: love, affection, a promotion, money, kindness, good deeds. We are beings who feel and yearn.
I don't think it's wrong to expect something in return, as long as it's not a daily habit, because I believe that sometimes acting selflessly is something that doesn't tie you to people or situations.
So, I would expect interest, for example, from my sister. Let's say I hugged her; I would love a hug back.
Even so, if she doesn't want to hug me, I wouldn't be bothered by it because I know the ways she shows affection to others, and that's okay too.
And well, that's the reason why I help others, and you?
Text written by me.
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- Banners and cover created in Canva using the free version.
- All the photographs in the post are my own, which I edit with the Lightroom and Meitu apps.
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