BajaNomad

A small moment of kindness...

Santiago - 3-13-2004 at 03:43 PM

Last week I ducked into Hammacas in Bahia de Los Angeles for a late lunch of warm soup as I had just driven thru a hail storm and it was "gatos y perros" and cold. As I stepped off the porch and walk around my truck to open the door I heard a horn toot at me. Turning around there was a local (I assume) woman and a teenage girl pointing towards me. I interpreted this as a request for my parking spot - really dumb on retrospect as there was no other vehicle around. I indicated I was leaving and opened the truck door and started to get in - more honking and jestering toward the front of the truck. Puzzled, I got out and looked and saw my wallet on the ground. I probably had 5 or 6 hundred bucks between the dollars and pesos in there. I know that not everyone is honest everywhere and not everyone is dishonest everywhere - but I wonder what the odds are of me getting the same treatment in my hometown?

JESSE - 3-13-2004 at 05:39 PM

Did you give good Karma back?

Good Karma?

Debra - 3-13-2004 at 09:57 PM

JESSE, I think that is what his post was about....good Karma.

1974 Karma - Bahia de Los Angeles

Mike Humfreville - 3-13-2004 at 10:19 PM

Mary Ann and I were living in a hut where Geckos is today. We went to town to attend a fiesta for Papa?s Birthday. There was food and a brutal punch and most of the town was there. There were a few Americans, planes lined up and tied down to the buried tires that still can be found around the hotel and Patricio's old Pemex.

It grew dark and we were climbing into our old ?La Tortuga? FJ40 Land Cruiser. A strong west wind was blowing. Mary Ann dropped her purse and it hit the ground and opened and an envelope we had $1900.00 in opened and 19 $100.00 bills blew freely toward the water in the black night. Everyone that was standing around our truck saw the problem and scrambled to rescue what they could of our money. We got back all but $300.00 and the way the wind was howling and with the darkness I can only wonder how anyone found anything. I?m sure there were several happy fishermen the next day out on the water that figured heaven was taking care of them.

But the story got even more touching. The next day a friend from the village came down to our hut and offered me a job working with him on his fishing boat. I was so touched I had to look away to hide my eyes.

So many of us that have it all can always learn from those who care so little for physical wealth and so dearly for more important matters.

Dave - 3-13-2004 at 11:52 PM

Okay, JR didn't dictate this but why would anyone think this was unusual behavior for Mexicans or most folks on the planet?

To prove my point ask yourself this:

What would you do in a similar situation?

If anyone on this board would keep the cash I would be astonished.

Herb - 3-14-2004 at 07:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Okay, JR didn't dictate this but why would anyone think this was unusual behavior for Mexicans or most folks on the planet?

To prove my point ask yourself this:

What would you do in a similar situation?

If anyone on this board would keep the cash I would be astonished.


While I believe most on this board would give it back, the fact is that every study I've seen done on this subject suggests that most Americans would not give it back, even thuogh most say they would when surveyed, their observed actions are different. Also for Americans, the rate of return goes down if they perceive the person who lost the wallet/money to be wealthy...

So, we find it amazing, even though it shouldn't be in most of the world, because of what we are used to here.

By the way, I believe it is just as much urban vs. rural influence. I'd expect that to happen in a place like Villa Rica, GA or La Poza Grande. I would be less likely to expect to get my wallet back in either LA or Tijuana or Ensenada.

JESSE - 3-14-2004 at 05:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
JESSE, I think that is what his post was about....good Karma.
I meany giving some cash back, thats what i alway do when i find myself in a similar situation.

pappy - 3-14-2004 at 05:33 PM

sometimes giving a cash reward is appropriate but i think the true reward comes from within the person who helpedin whatever the situation.I personally would never accept cash for good deed done....

JESSE - 3-14-2004 at 05:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by pappy
sometimes giving a cash reward is appropriate but i think the true reward comes from within the person who helpedin whatever the situation.I personally would never accept cash for good deed done....
I wouldnt as well, but if the person doing the good deed is not as well off finacially as some of us are, i think the best karma is to give them some cash, off course, this is just my opinion and i am not in any way saying that someone didnt do what they should, just my humble opinion.:D

Dave - 3-14-2004 at 09:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by pappy
sometimes giving a cash reward is appropriate but i think the true reward comes from within the person who helpedin whatever the situation.I personally would never accept cash for good deed done....


Good deeds should not be rewarded. They should be performed because they are the right things to do. If one rewards someone for doing what should come instinctually, it cheapens the act itself.

JESSE

Debra - 3-14-2004 at 10:15 PM

I don't think 'good karma' is giving "cash back" for a good deed. I would not except a 'reward' and from what I'm told of Mexican culture (and what I've seen) it would be an insult to offer money.....I haven't spent much time in the larger cities of Mexico (it may be different there) but, in the small villages (my experience) it is much more proper to offer friendship , thanks and an offer of help in return.

Karma

Skeet/Loreto - 3-15-2004 at 02:13 PM

We are all Gods Children no matter who we are.
God resides in our hearts and minds therefore it is easy to see that the person giving the money back did not think of themselves but of the "Other Person".
Skeet/Loreto


"In God We Trust"

honesty

bajalera - 3-15-2004 at 07:43 PM

Psychology Today magazine once published a study in which someone left some serious change in a phone booth, and lingered outside it for a while. Most of the poorly dressed people who next used the booth returned the money, while most of the best-dressed folks did not.

Make what you want of that . . .

bajalera

[Edited on 3-16-2004 by bajalera]

GeoRock - 3-16-2004 at 01:59 PM

Not everyone expects a reward for what should be considered decent behavoir.

Karma is karma.

Two years ago I was in my local post office. A German tourist didn't have American change to purchase a couple post card stamps. I gave him what he needed and refused any payment. Flash forward. Last week I was in a post office and needed just two stamps. But the machine only offered to sell me a package of stamps. And it only took up to a $10 bill. I only had twenties and a one dollar bill--too much and not enough. I really needed to mail these bill payments.

In desperation, outside I knocked on a lady's car window and asked to buy 2 stamps for a buck. (I could see she was putting stamps on her own letters to mail.) She gave me the stamps and refushed payment. She was driving an older car, not like my new one. I offered three times to pay her. All offers were met with a smiling refusal. I finally heartily thanked her and realized that many acts of kindness don't require any payment at the time. That payment will come later...

3 words Geo: Pill Pay Online

Debra - 3-16-2004 at 06:22 PM

I'll have had several exchanges like the ones you described in my "lllllloooooonnnngggggg" life, both on the giving and receiving end....seems pretty simple to me "Do Unto Others...." :)

I meant: "Bill Pay Online" woops!

[Edited on 3-17-2004 by Debra]

This thread

Mike Humfreville - 3-16-2004 at 08:13 PM

I've been chewing on the comments on this thread for days and discussed it at lunch today with a work pal. It's a personal and heavy issue within each of us.

When I read (and believe) the statistics that were presented above, I'm not surprised.

When we're on a roll, we want it to continue, we want predictability.

If I live in the U.S. I most likely want to compete. I want a house in a few years that is better than the one I have now. I live my life competing so I can show others that I am successful. It's the law of the land. But on the other hand...

There's the desert dweller that lives 50 kilometers from his nearest neighbor and his neighbors horse wanders into his yard looking for nourishment and that clues in the guy that something is wrong 50 miles down the road. He saddles up or gasses up from an old red plastic tank in the barn and goes to find out whats wrong with his pal.

In this second scenario there's no room for self-promotion, for pumping your image up and looking at your reflection to see how others will see you. There is just time to react and make sure your nearest neighbor is safe and well.

Many of us in the U.S. are busy protecting and defending our own ass(ets). That's our culture and we defend it. It's been my way of life. Prove your value by your earning ability.

But we can certainly learn from our neighbors' ways of life.

Mike.....

Debra - 3-16-2004 at 08:55 PM

I'm not sure I'm following you,

"things" are just that, "things" that's never been very important to me, I've never worried about 'up-grading' my dwelling "every few years" , I've lived in the same home for 20yrs. and it was built in 1945..without really thinking hard I just made a list of 17 homeless people I've offered shelter to over those 20yrs. (I have one living with me now) self-promotional? Don't think so, I think people are more important that "things" "self-promotion" comes up very often in your writings and your camp-fire conversations.....Ya know I luv ya Putz!, but, I have to say that it seems to be an insecurity thing YOU have going on there. :)

Mike Humfreville - 3-16-2004 at 09:09 PM

Read it again Deb. You're missing the entire point.

Guess I am Mike.....

Debra - 3-16-2004 at 09:15 PM

Explaine please? :) I read it several times.

I get it Mike...

Herb - 3-16-2004 at 09:51 PM

and I like it. I think that having "another world" so close to "our world" helps serve as a reality check on what is important in the "real world."

Does that make any sense!:?:

The point is...

Mike Humfreville - 3-16-2004 at 10:35 PM

OK Deb and Herb, here it is in my personal prescription form (not to be imposed on anyone ever):

1. Love what you do for others because it is for their best, not yours.

Opps! That's it. It's only one step, after all the hooplah. It's far, FAR from some form of religeous statement, just a simple late night observation. But it works for me and I can drift off tonight, looking into a heavy workday tomorrow, dreaming about what a great world this would be if we just thought about each other at the same level as we think about our...selves.

Skeet/Loreto - 3-17-2004 at 07:11 AM

Mike: I have a great respect for you and yours since I first met you at the first Baja Book signing . Your encourgment to write is bringing me much Happiness! Your words concerning my feeble attempts, thus far continue to make me think and work hard!
i have a Story to tell you about a meeting with "Erlene"_{Jimmy Smiths Editor} which I hope to tell to you on May1St.

Mike what is happening to you is very similair to what is happening to me!God is in your Heart trying to tell you the "Purpose of Your Life".
Please obtain Rick Warrens Book and read it!!

"Suffer the Children"

Skeet/Loreto
"In God We Trust"