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. Zach Skow is a shining example.
The founder and executive director of non-profit organization Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, he and his team save dogs that have been abused, abandoned, neglected and lost. Their heroic care gives the animals a chance to be loved and to recover instead of being euthanized at an animal shelter.
A remarkably caring person who understands the magnitude of second chances, Zach extends his helping hands to people as well.
I asked him to tell me about a time when he did something nice for someone that he didn’t know.
Here’s what he shared.
“I have the perfect example of a situation to speak about.
Long story short, I have been sober 12 years and I’m pretty public about it online. I am also a comprehensive transplant patient at Cedars Sinai having drank myself into liver and kidney failure.
A friend from high school, who I haven’t spoken to in 20 years, reached out about her brother who is dying from addiction. She gave me his number and I called him. We had a long talk about what I’ve been through and each of us cried handily.
Well, fast forward 5 years and I get a random phone call from that same gentleman telling me that our conversation was the last time he used and that within an hour of our talk he checked himself into a year-long recovery program.
He was calling to let me know that he had just taken a 5-year chip and he doesn’t think he’d be alive if we hadn’t talked. I remember how I was feeling that day and it was not good. His conversation not only helped give me self-esteem and lift me up, but it obviously was something he needed as well.
His call served to really lift my spirits up and pay me back for lifting his spirits back all those years ago.
People helping people. It’s reciprocal. Being of service and helping others helps us most.” |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
“We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.” – ‘We Are the World’
