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What is the least selfish thing you have ever done?

This week I am spending at the Seattle Cancer Care house with a friend who is undergoing yet another round of treatments for lymphoma.
It is something I feel good about doing, I am trying to be helpful and keep my friend in good spirits.
Why do I do this? I have no idea.

How about you?

Akfishlady 8 Apr 6
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25 comments

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6

Looked after an elderly relative for about eight years full time to keep her from going into a care home.

6

I've given homeless people $5, a meal, or some food. I volunteered at a homeless shelter's pantry to make meals for the homeless, bottle up soaps, give away coats, toys, etc... Growing up with my family, we served Xmas and Thanksgiving meals to the homeless on the holidays. I passed out the new toys to the children. They were so happy. I made me feel good inside. My parents would take us home afterwards to have our Xmas or Thanksgiving meal for us.

6

During the winter months, me and a friend give out coffee to the homeless on Saturday mornings. Now that it's April, I'm off shift until next September. It's nice to do good and they really appreciate it. I have come to know a number of them quite well.

6

IDK, but you are an inspiration..

5

Giving up on love to be supportive of the persons new relationship even when it kills me inside.

5

I filled ziploc sandwhich bags with cotton sox, lip balm, individually packaged wet wipes, a mylar space blanket, and $5. I keep them in my car. When I see someone with a sign on the street asking for money I will hand him a bag. I read an article that says stuff like this is what the homeless need most.

5

I became a mother.

5

Easy answer - "become a teacher!"

4

I do laundry and mending and ironing for residents in my scheme they pay me whatever they want to and when I get ot £100 .00 I send it to a charity. I am getting older so its harder but not giving up just yet

4

Helped prevent a woman from being sexually assaulted, by keeping a watchful eye on her (a complete stranger). There were eight men crowded around her on a beach at night. My brother and I made those men aware of our presence and after four hours of keeping the watchful eye they all gradually buzzed off and we helped escort her back to her room (we were on vacation). We were taller and bigger than all of them so that helped--intimidation factor. She thanked us but she was visibly intoxicated, so she probably had no clue what was going on. Beyond that I try being as selfless as possible in everyday life, helping people move things, picking up things, etc.

As a woman, Austin, thank you.
The one quote goes "Every man's death diminishes me."
I'll create a new one, "Every noble deed raises humankind higher".
Hugs thank you.

4

You do it because you care. I have given a lot of money from my art to animal rescue and I do many little things like hold doors open, smile etc.

4

I really can't say what it is because it's too painful to think about. But there have been times under extreme stress I've put myself dead last and suffered the consequences. High price to pay for a clear conscience.
I'm sorry about your friend, hopefully they'll go into remission. Just be there for them and let them have their feels, fetch treats or whatever if they're up to it, be ok with silence if they need it. Being there is huge. Let them be your guide. ((( hugs ))))

Same here. I once, foolishly took my younger sister's turn at running a Haiti radio station shift so she could join some boys from school who'd traveled up from Port-au-Prince for a beach trip with us. Instead of being grateful, she ran off with the boys and they all had a great time and forgot about me, even leaving me out when I rejoined them. I never did that again!

4

You do this because you're a human being with empathy. Good on you.

3

I had to make the choice of turning off life support for my 2 day old son. I did it because I didn’t want him to suffer. And I wanted him to die peacefully and know, just for a few mins, the warmth of another humans embrace.

Thank you very much. I have. ?

3

Gave my friend and his wife a place to live after he lost his job and their house was foreclosed during the Great Rip Off.

jeffy Level 7 Apr 6, 2018
3

It was rumored in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada that I was a giver and an easy target for scammers and liars. I was getting tired of it, So I was preparing to leave Saskatoon after I got my inheritence. I was at a pub where I sang Kareoke , and a poor fella was walking up to me, and I didnt want to hear a made up story for a donation of money, so I pulled out a twenty, I knew what he wanted and I hate it when people lie to me. I just slapped the twenty in his hand and didnt tell him what to spend it on.

3

gave the same charity $1000 two years in a row

3

I believe that we are all selfish, just some people have positive selfish traits. That is a very positive selfish trait. For me, it is hard to not help someone if I can.

2

One winter outside a grocery store an old man came up to me and asked me for my coat. It was cold and think he might have been homeless, so I gave it to him.

ebdb Level 7 Apr 8, 2018
2

Paid a food bill at a grocery store

2

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country," President John F. Kennedy famously said in his Inaugural Address. His words hit me in the center of my 10 year-old chest. Lying on the living room floor, I watching his inauguaration on TV with my family.

For 12 years as a volunteer, I have been helping low income, minority students write essays for college entry and scholarships. One of my best success stories is Brenda, who won $269,445 in scholarships in 2016.

"I am a beacon of hope in my neighborhood," Teresa said in 2014. "My younger siblings and neighbor kids look up to me. I am inspiring them to study hard, get good grades, not drop out and go to college."

It thrills me to send these kids to college. Being a college mentor is the most rewarding volunteer work I have ever done.

2

I dunno. I suppose it was the way I'd take kids horse trail riding with us and teach them to ride as well.

2

I have voluntarily espoused libertarian political theory.

Good on you, free minds and free markets. If we could educate the world on just these two ideas it would be a much better place. I also give to Amnesty International to try and save people from unjust governments, and oh yeah, Medecins Sans Frontieres.

1

I would tell you, but for me part of not being selfish is keeping it to myself.

1

I once was on a canoe trip in my teens on the Androscoggin River in northern New Hampshire and saved a life with my beloved jean jacket. We rescued a baby calf that fell into the river. Such a feeling.

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