Have you ever been told you made someone's life better?
If you’ve been stalking me you know that I’ve been all over the US and have met quite a few different people on the way.
I’ve had quite a few people that I’ve met that have literally told me that knowing me or having me in their life at that point had really helped them in their life.
Recently the shit has hit the fan on my side and it’s forcing me to move again and probably for the last time. While I was still able to make it to work my co-worker said to me, “How can you smile knowing the doom that’s coming?” He was referring to the recently trouble I’m having. I said, “Why not? It’s already in motion and I’m currently in a good mood, so why not?”
This is just an example. I’m not sure if this example gives form to the others that told me I helped their life, no the co-worker didn’t say so, but I’m having trouble understanding how I did help them.
Have you helped someone’s life to the point they tell you so? Have you inadvertently helped someone’s life and only them telling you informed you so? Have you gone out of your way to help someone’s life or change the quality of it?
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Been told often. It’s why folks become teachers — sure as heck not for the money.
Yes, I have been told that I helped someone. It is one of the reasons I stay on Fluther.
@janbb Well, it is a matter of who types it first I guess. And your answers are very helpful!
Yep sure I’ve been there for most of my friends at one time or another, that’s why they’re my friends! ;-)
Being in law enforcement for many years, i have had the opportunity to attempt to not only arrest people, but hopefully make a difference in their lives. i have sent numerous people to rehabilitation for drug addiction. its rare that rehab will make a difference in a true junkies life, but it happened just once for me and here is how it happened: my son played little league football with the son of a close friend. two years they played football together. the other player, which i will call Mark, had a younger brother. one afternoon, after little league football practice, Mark and his brother were being driven home by their dad. they were in a van with a sliding door. it was hot, so the sliding door was left open. bad mistake. while making a turn on a city street, the younger brother fell out of the van and was killed. it tore their dad all to pieces. at the funeral, their father made the comment to Mark, “why couldn’t this have happened to you. instead of your brother?”. this remark drove Mark crazy. he began smoking marijuana and committing crimes as a revenge. i arrested Mark for three home burglaries. he was 14 at the time. instead of serving time, the burglary victims and i sat down and agreed on no prosecution, if Mark went to rehabilitation. this he did. i did not hear from Mark for many years. one day, off-duty, there was a tap on my shoulder. it was Mark, his wife and two children. he shook my hand and thanked me for being there for him, when his family was not. i cannot tell you the feeling i felt inside. i knew Mark was a good kid and that his dad was the cause of his “craziness”. this is rare for a police officer to have anyone approach them, after the fact, of a good or bad deed. this compliment from Mark, made all the other bad times of the job, well worth it. i felt great for at least a year.
Headline: @Axemusica is Rob Blagojevich
People actually tell me that a lot, but I figure they are just blowing smoke.
Not here…loll..but, in the real world! yes!
I’ve been told that before. I don’t think it’s coincidence that in almost every case it’s been by someone who I consider a very dear and close friend with whom at one time or another I’ve said the same to. I’ve found, in those instances, it’s often inadvertent, just an off hand comment or lending an ear or a shoulder or a place to stay (sometimes just being myself) that has the most dramatic effect, perhaps because it’s unexpected. But I’ve gone out of my way as well to help, though I’d never admit it to them and I suspect the same has happened for me. Those kind of moments, thinking back on them, are the kind I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
@Axemusica Former Illinois Governor who is constantly in trouble. Sorry, little joke.
I have been told this before and it’s always nice to hear.I have also pissed alot people off too;)
I do help people on occasion and it does change their life if only for a moment.
Today, in fact. I try to keep it at a ratio of about 1–3. Try to make three people’s lives better, while allowing for someone to better mine, too.
The only person I have been told this by, is a friend of some cousins that live quite a way off. The third time I saw him he came straight up to me and told me he needed to talk to me. He thanked me for giving him the courage to change his life – he dumped his boyfriend that was abusing him emotionally. He said that it was a consequence of speaking to me about my abusive relationships and the honesty I gave him, I spoke to his heart and he connected with everything I said.
It literally has changed his life completely and I feel honoured that he not only felt that way but took the time to sit me down and tell me. I didn’t give him any advice really I just told him my experiences and listened to his without judgement.
@Axemusica knew that my friend…just been a couple of bad days here…loll..
Having been a coach and teacher, would hope that some child was lead in the right direction. Have one player in mine, great kid…his front teeth were, uh, just plain rotten. Drove him to the dentist and had his teeth replaced, well, capped. Drove him home everyday….during Christmas would always carry his family a big tray of food etc…and, btw, he was not that good a player. Just a GREAT kid that was very poor. Today, he is a very productive member of his community. Proud of him.
A few times, sure. One of my ex bf and his parents each give me credit for him surviving into adulthood, he turned out okay.
Yes. I used to work with girls diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (among a myriad of other things) who had suicide ideation. I had one client who, after a struggle, was able to move through the program and drastically change her life. Before she left she wrote me a letter saying how much I personally helped her. She gave me a lot of credit for helping her to heal. Too bad success stories like that are the rarity.
Yes. A few times. But you don’t want to know what for…trust me :-p
I brought a woman into my home who had been severly beaten by some idiots because it seemed like the “fun thing to do on a Saturday night.” She could not open her eyes because of the swelling and had a bad concusion. I first took her to the ER, then home with me to rest until she was well enough to be on her own again. this was over 15 years ago, and she still constantly thanks me for it. There is much more to this story, but I won’t go into it now. I will say however that while she was at my house, I encouraged her in many ways, and when she left, she improved her life situation remarkedly.
Yeah, I have. By my best friend. It’s bittersweet for me, because he killed himself not too long ago. He told me, a while before he killed himself, “I would probably be dead by now if you weren’t in my life.” Well… Yeah. I dunno. I wish I could have been an even bigger influence.
A few times. Probably the single finest thing anyone has ever told me was said by my (soon-to-be, at the time) ex-husband. We were in the midst of deciding to divorce, and were crying over it together. He told me that I had made him a better person, just by being the person I was. A moment I treasure.
i think it happened to me in 6th grade. im not a huge fan of text messaging and i normally don’t reply to texts. that day, i left my phone in my bedroom while i went out with my friends. when i got back, i got a text message from a classmate which i’ve only spoken a few words to saying how totally unfair life was which was sent 3 hours ago. idk why, but i felt like i needed to reply and i’m glad i did. she was actually planning to slit her wrists and i was just in time to ‘stop’ her. after that, she’d always refer to me as the one who changed her life.
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