Negativity and selfishness gets great publicity in our social networking, indirect-contact society. You’d be led to believe the world’s running low on good people and that no one cares for or respects one another anymore. Their only concerns are themselves; and when they’re in need, no one is willing to lend them a hand without reward.
This is not the case. Kind, caring, selflessly-generous people still exist. Johnathan Rand is a shining example.
An iconic writer and speaker, Rand is the author of the top-selling Michigan Chillers, American Chillers, Freddie Fernorntner, Fearless First Grader, Creepy Campfire Chillers, The Adventure Club, Dollar $tore Danny, and Nightmare Nation series of age-appropriate books for children.
With millions of copies sold, Rand has toured across the United States and Canada to speak with students of all ages about the importance of reading and writing.
Rand also welcomes and engages thousands of guests each year at Chillermania, his combination retail store, office, and warehousing facility in Indian River, MI.
While good at what he does, he’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked Johnathan Rand to tell me about a time when he did something nice for someone that he didn’t know. Here’s what he shared.
“Probably about 10 years ago I started doing something that I still do to this day. Because I travel a lot I’m in contact with a lot of different people. I stop at convenience stores, gas stations.
So, when I check out at a convenience store or gas station, I might be buying a cup of coffee or something, I’ll whatever is on the counter – a candy bar or something like that. I’ll ask the clerk, ‘Are these any good?’
They’ll either say no, I’ve never had one or I like these, but these are my favorite. And I’ll say, ‘Okay, cool, well I’ll try that.’
Then I buy it and I leave it for them. Then I walk away.
I know that I’m never going to see this person again, and I do it just because I don’t know what’s happened in their day. I think maybe just a random stranger buying them a $0.99 piece of candy, or something like that, might resonate with them.
It started just because I saw somebody years ago that kind of looked like they were down. I thought this person looks like they’re having a bad day. And I thought for a couple dollars maybe I could give them a little lift.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker – “The extra mile is only one mile more.”]
