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. Eki Shola is a shining example.
With a Nigerian name meaning “gift from God”, Eki is using the musical talent she’s been anointed with to be a blessing to all who listens. A singer, writer and composer, the London born artist can be described as both uplifting and innovative. She’s a wizard keyboardist capable of spellbinding compositions.
The music found on Eki’s albums ‘Final Beginning’, ‘Possible’ and ‘Drift’ fuses classical, electronic, jazz and soul, a welcomed mix that landed her on NPR’s “Tiny Desk On the Road Tour”. When not crafting future rhythms she’s writing articles and blogs to encourage, inspire, and provide helpful tips to anyone looking to advance their lives and careers. While good at what she does, she’s also a good person and one who believes in helping others.
I asked Eki Shola to tell me about a time when she did something nice for someone she didn’t know. Here’s what she shared.
“I was walking to the supermarket in the evening to get some dinner items and close to the entrance I saw a gentleman shrouded in clothing and blankets huddled on the ground with some belongings on his left and a backpack on his right.
His face peeked through his blanket and we made small eye contact. He was drinking a beverage. After entering the supermarket I decided to buy him a snack but realized that I didn’t know what he would like. I ended up choosing a turkey cheese sandwich for him.
When I exited the store and returned to where he was sitting, I asked him if he wanted something to eat. He answered yes and I handed him the sandwich, then said goodbye. I noticed he did not say thank you nor did he smile – nor did he have to.
Now did I do something nice? I don’t know. I was compelled to buy him something because I wanted to reach out and help him.
However, what’s nice for the giver may not necessarily be for the recipient.
I purchased him a turkey sandwich but who knows if he even liked turkey? Perhaps he was vegetarian or hated cheese. I grappled with the notion that I had made an assumption of what would be nice and acted on it without consideration of what this man wanted or needed – if anything. All of this was swirling around in my head on my way home that night.
Maybe I’m over-thinking it. What compelled me was wanting to share and give back to someone that struck me as being in need. I wanted to be nice and help and I’d like to think that I did – but perhaps I should have asked if and how he needed help.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
“We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” – ‘We Are the World’
Start your week with a feel-good story! Read a new “Shining Example” every Monday at 8:00 AM!
