January 17, 2017

  • Looking Out for Number One

    The year 2016 was fairly rotten according to most opinions. I have been trying to remain positive and hopeful so far in 2017. But there seem to be a multitude of people working at cross purposes to my happiness and serenity. I am currently dealing with the "looking out for number one" crowd. It is pervasive, this attitude that the only possible motivation to perform any task is for some selfish and self serving purpose. There was a time when it was proclaimed that chivalry was dead. Many people tried to prove otherwise. I want to announce that altruism is dead and buried. So what is altruism? It is defined in most places as unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others. If I compliment someone they look at me with suspicion and ask "Why the compliment?" If I offer to share, the immediate reaction is "What's wrong with it that you want to give me some?" There is a deep seated distrust of any kindness, any unsolicited helpfulness, indeed, all assistance is suspect. There is the opinion that there must be some catch or strings attached. They are convinced that everything must be a favor that requires payback. This post is a direct response to my Friday the Thirteenth post in which I proposed doing these following acts:
    1. I will hand out 13 compliments today.
    2. I'm going to help out 13 times.
    7. I'm handing out 13 prizes from my goody drawer.

    My compliments were specifically aimed at doing a good job - be it folding laundry, performing a procedure, or taking extra care of an animal. All were met with skepticism. One person actually commented "Your're just saying that so I have to come up with something nice to say to you." When did this world get so warped?

    I helped all day. Every time I left my office I did something - I took some cages to cagewash, brought the clean clothes to the locker room, distributed some mail, swept a room, restocked some gloves and masks, bagged some enrichment for autoclaving, you know, little things to make life a bit easier. All I got were glares and the attitude that my helping was making them look "bad" making them appear that they couldn't handle the work load.

    My last act of kindness was to gift a trinket to everyone. Initially I thought I would just place the items by everyone's locker. Instead I placed all the gifts - stuffed toys, cool key chains, pretty ID badge holders, and a couple of spiffy bottle openers - into a brown bag and took it around to everyone so that they could select a gift. I was asked why they were being gifted. My response that it was to make their Friday a little brighter didn't seem to be considered truthful.

    I was disappointed. I had hoped that the level of angst over the various audits and analyses would have been eased. I guess everyone is still gnashing their teeth and working under the assumption that all their jobs are on the line. At this rate it wouldn't surprise me if they start throwing each other "under the bus"!

Comments (8)

  • It's a shame that the world has devolved to looking for ulterior motives. I'd far prefer to take actions such as yours in a more positive way.

  • I'm sorry that your nice gestures and compliments were poorly received. I stilll believe in kindness. Don't let those who have already shut down their hearts stop you. I will still tell strangers "I like your shirt.", or hold the door for the next person. We may be in the minority, but there are others out there too, and we can be the positive differerence, setting the example. We never know when a smile or kind word might just be what someone else needs.

  • People are cynical and so suspicious nowadays. More so I think than when I was young.

    • Times change. The political climate has made things darker and more negative... hard to combat but I'm doing my best.

  • They better not throw you under the bus, or we, your friends, will rise up and rescue you!

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