Greedy Bastards

I have come to a conclusion over the past few years, one which has offended many people, but I still hold to the fact that I believe it's true. The theory is this: Everything any one of us does, relates back to our own greed or selfishness in some way, shape, or form.

Like I said, it's not very popular among people I've talked to over the past couple of years about it.

But, here's a prime example: On Saturday I was leaving a thrift store after buying some books that I found. Leaving at the same time, was an older lady who was having trouble getting to her car because of all the ice on the sidewalk. So, she asked me for help and I agreed. She took me by the arm and I led her to the driver side door of her car, and I even to her bag of purchases and put them in her trunk. I even overheard her make the comment, "There are still some nice people in the world." And I walked home from that store feeling pretty good about myself.

Now, I'd like to believe I did this because I'm a nice person and I just wanted to help out this nice lady. However, there is the lingering thought that I did simply to make myself feel good. Or, I did it so that I can tell people about it and look like a nice guy. Or, even I did it because I thought she might offer me a ride home, or some other type of reward for my gesture. I don't know for sure what my my true motives were, but if I did it simply to be nice, why am I advertising on my blog.

So, do you see my point here? I hear all the time about these rich guys who donate a ton of money to charity, and everyone goes around saying what great people they are. In my opinion, if they were such great people, they wouldn't be advertising what they were doing. They would donate anonymously so that no one would know. But, the fact that these people do know, makes me wonder what the true motives really are.

The man who jumps into a lake to save a drowning person, does he really care if they live or die? Or does he want his picture in the paper under the headline "Hero"?

This is something that has been on my mind lately, and I just thought I'd give anyone who reads this some food for thought.

Until next time,

Joe