Often, it takes a reaching out to get a response. Everyone loves to receive a letter from someone they care about (now days a letter is most likely an email–but any form of communicating really is representative of a letter). You’ve got to write a letter to receive a letter. But I’m amazed at the power of reaching out. If you want something then you first have to give. If you want money then give money away. The effect is moving. It leads to a tumbling down or up of giving–reverberates. There’s a commercial where strangers see others help people out and then they help someone out when they have the chance–let the car ahead of them go or lift a bag for someone. Did you hear about the man who jumped down in the tracks of the subway station and saved a man who was having a seizure?
‘Wesley Autrey faced a harrowing choice, as he tried to rescue a teenager who had fallen off a platform onto a subway track in front of an approaching train: Struggle to hoist him back up to the platform in time, or take a chance on finding safety under the train.’
I think an example is the best teacher. I think receiving something from someone makes us want to give. Or, when you receive the thanks from giving you want to give more. Even more so, when someone is reached out to, they want to reach out to others. Sharing becomes epidemic.
Like Bill Murry in the hilarious movie Groundhogs Day. At first he’s set on doing thing that are more selfish. Things that impress others or knowing things to win the girl. Later, as the day drags on he starts to help others, since he knows what will take place and learns from each day.