This is about random acts of kindness, not being guilted or badgered into giving someone else assistance. Atxgurl, I am sure if that person who you drove home had known your car was gonna break down they probably would have continued to walk. I don't think they did that to your car on purpose. As far as your situation goes, exactly why are you out of work? If you expect people to donate money to help you pay your bills you should at least explain why you find yourself in your present situation. I suggest you have yourself a benefit of some sort.

As far as this article goes I was in LA gambling the weekend before Katrina hit. I went home with $600.00 more than I went with. After Katrina hit I donated it all to the Red Cross. When Rita hit, the daughter of a co-worker evacuated Houston, while she was gone someone broke into her apt & stole all her kids school uniforms, shoes, toys & everything else of value she had, I started up a collection at work to help her replace what she lost & I matched what was collected. I'm not bragging, just illustrating what a RANDOM act of kindness is.

Ah, but you're wrong atx, because I HAVE made it there. And I intend to and will again. Fortunately for me, I found a VERY large group of people there that are far nicer and far more accepting than you seem to be. In fact, I'm happy to say, you seem to be in the minority as far as I found. And as you said, don't judge based on a short post. You don't know me, so you have no basis for saying that I can't make it.

Tears to my eyes swbones, but you are right. I too have a sepcial smile after lending a helping hand, when the situation presents itself, especially when it comes to the elderly...that's my soft spot.

You know, both my husband and I, remember how our parents would always stop to help someone out. Both the same as another posting, we didn't have much, in fact there were times that we didn't have anything. But we were always taught that no matter how little or much you have, if someone needs it, give it willing or you will never have anything. We both stand behind this 100%. Just the other day, we had to be somewhere, mind you, we are late 4everything. That morning, we were early and just so happen that we seen an elderly lady and her older son, broke down on the side of the road. We knew there was no cell service out there, so we turned around. There tranny went out on their truck on the way 2 Montana. They had the worst week, the ladys son kicked them out of there house and never paid them 4 work they did @ their business for 9 months. These folks looked @ our plates and said the same thing, you have to have been from TX, cause nobody round here helps anyone out. This was in CO. This made us feel so good inside, as we drove away, what was on the radio, nothing other that CLAY WALKER, You don't owe me a thing. I just hope that our children will continue to help others, if they can and do it with an open heart. God see's EVERYTHING and know if we are doing it selfishly!! Some times we are tested to see our true inside. When you do 4others, never expect something in return, NEVER!

I agree with the T-shirt "Keep Austin Weird".

And keep those condescending Austinites out of South Texas.

People here are generally nice, helpful, and kind.

There are jerks everywhere, but I see more of them the further north I go.

Stay in Victoria (with your mom) JWhite. You don't have the mentality to make it here.
Hater? Bitter? No, not me. I am a realist, and proud of it. Don't profess to know me or anything about me, because you don't...esp. from a minute post on a blog. If I have offended, I suggest you get over it. There are more important things (in my life anyway) to spend time thinking about.
BTW, It has nothing to do with being in Victoria or being in Austin, there is ugliness everywhere, the only difference is the population and/or percentage. <---------see realistic.  Now, as stimulating as these conversations have been, I really must go. I have "vented" enough for today. Thanks to all who help :)

You know, atx, I lived in Austin for a while, and loved it (going to move back someday), but I never would have been as ugly as you seem to want to be to people from here. In an overall appearance, a lot of the people here can come across as hypocrites, but did you ever think to spend some time with the ones who AREN'T? Although, in reality, everyone is a hypocrite in some form. Maybe not blatantly, or in such a large way, but we all say something and do another at some point. In some cases, it's called change.As for pay it forward, I'm a single mom living at home with my own mother and I barely have anything leftover after bills for gas and groceries, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go out asking people for their money. If someone offers to help me, I accept it (sometimes, I am pretty stubbornly independent!) and do my best to repay the kindness in other ways (eg. cooking them a meal, helping them with a problem). As for paying it forward, I do my best to offer things I can when I can. And it's not necessarily money. I know I have plenty that others don't, so when I don't need it, it moves on to someone who does. My only hope is that it continues with that person I helped. This article was something GOOD, why did you feel the need to come on here, atx, and bash in such a generalized way? It was completely unnecessary for you to take something good and try to turn it into something ugly.

mmmm.....

someone fits in well with the haters of Austin. I have many friends from that area who tell of them.

Giving is in itself the reward, if anything else happens then it's just sugar on top. I can tell you many good things have happened in my life and I don't attribute them to karma or luck, they just are what they are. Yet I continue to just be kind because it does not cost me anything.My husband has made us late to many events because he stops in the middle of the road to help and nothing could make me more proud. A few minutes late here or there won't kill you. Now if it's super important that you are somewhere on time, then go ahead, like swbones said, priorities do matter and safety as well. All it would take is common sense which is not that common.

We grew up “Dirt” poor East Texas. My father drove old vehicles; I learned auto mechanics from always working on junk my dad drove. He did not have anything extra feeding 6 children and yet he would stop and help just about anyone. My mother would get mad because he would be late to dinner at times.
The thing with my father, he never expected anything in return. Never said it would be repaid in anyway. He taught us it was the right thing to do. I suppose I learned the proper meaning of charity from him. Do it because it is right not because there is a possible pay back. He was by no means a successful man in his financial life, but he did a real fine job of teaching us how to be men and women.
My second wife was from up North, she used to get so mad at me for helping someone along the road. I have to laugh looking back. She is so bitter today.
Please, all of you don’t suddenly think you need to stop and assist everyone along the road. First determine if you can and is it safe for you. Then, if those two meet, by all means get to it. You don’t want to be a victim of a trap.
If a person develops the habit of doing the sorta things discussed in the thread it makes you a happier person. It should be an action that is spontaneous. Don’t set out on a “Mission” to do something nice for someone else. Take it slow and develop a habit of it. The next step is to get to the point you never expect anything in return. Also don’t expect anyone else to help push the car..
It is a great thing to set in a restaurant and watch a daughter and her mother, who is undergoing chemo treatments, try to figure out who just paid for their meal.

SWBones and TexasHuckleberry you both are correct. My dad is the same way, he is not rich by any means nor am I but one act of kindness can get you really far in life. I like to think that if ever I was in need I would get paid back with an act of kindness. I try to instill in my children the same. PAY IT FORWARD does not mean sending money to atx58gurl.

Atx58gurl you have a lot of bitter comments to the citizens of Victoria, yet people in Austin are the same, they Pay It Forward. Have you ever thought that if you let go of some of that bitterness you might get a little more sympathy. Oh and this not a personal attack jmo.

Sounds like lack of maintenance of a vehicle, two separate events, one had nothing to do with the other, unless the person you tried to assist somehow sabotaged you.

Don't give up your day job--mechanic you're not. It was a wet/moist carburator/plugs (I am NO MECHANIC) something in that area brought on by the heavy rain.
Also, I don't remember any contagious acts of kindness when I lived there. You really don't want me to go into my feelings about the people and living in Victoria in general. Okay, one word: HYPOCRITES. Good thing I have a job interview. Wish me luck :P
Just a quick note b4 I get off this loser thread. My interview was at The Governor's Office, yes The Governer, Rick Perry, know him? Who knows if I got it, too soon to tell, but I have a good feeling :)    Don't hate--very unproductive.
BTW, I don't rely on sympathy from anyone. I make my own luck. Only losers rely on "karma" and "sympathy." JMO
Thank you soooo much everyone for reminding me why I moved, and to remind me never to go back, no matter how many challenges I face.  So long l****s. LMFAO

Judge not lest ye be judge. Some philantrophists you are...both of you!

Oh just an FYI, yes I have paid it forward. Let me give you readers an example:

One extremely rainy and windy night in 2002, my children had just come from the HEB that was then located in front of Country Club Drive when we saw a lady walking home. We were by Shields Elementary, one block from our own home, but we offered her a ride; she lived one block north of the Port Lavaca Hwy. On our way back home our car stopped running. It didn't start again. We waited for quite some time hoping the battery or something was just wet. I got soaked trying to make it run. People kept passing us by, no one offered to help. My children and I ended up carrying our own groceries home and I carried the car battery as well--not an easy feat. By then, the rain didn't matter anymore...we were all soaked to the skin, and my tears mingled with the rain on my face as my son asked, "Why did you have to give that lady a ride?" I was cursing myself too, but I told him, "Because I would like to think that someone would do the same for me if I were in that predicament." Ironically, we were in that predicament, and no one did the same for me...even my 7 year old son could see that...and believe me I had to listen to his griping for the duration of the walk.

We went without a car for over 6 months after that incident. I couldn't help but wonder if this was God's way of telling me, "Help yourself, before trying to help others," and I often wonder even now why my acts of kindness aren't reciprocated.

So...is this "paying it forward," or is this just stupidity in having faith in my fellow human beings?

Yea,
You don’t want to insult anyone by helping them.. I like to stop by the register on the way back from the bathroom and just handle it… tell the clerk to just keep quite.
I was on the Florida turnpike back in Jan 06, beautiful day, traffic was moving 100 mph or abouts, making good time headed to Key West, there was a woman with a child trying to flag someone down, well, took me about a half a mile to get stopped and survey the area to insure it was not a “Trap”, She had been there an hour, no jack with a flat, and a child about 5 years old.
When she was ready to go, she said, “I should have guessed, it would take someone from Texas to stop and help” Yes mam, we still do things like this in Texas.
Hey, I admit it makes a person feel good to assist someone else. Especially when you can get it done without them ever knowing who or where it came from.

atx58gurl: Asking for a handout sorta negates the whole definition of charity don’t you think?

atx58gurl you missed the boat completely!! Paying it forward is an awesome system and it's only to better the whole community. It's not about doing without to give to others, it's about giving selflessly, what you can. It doesn't have to be money, it can be helping someone with the grocery bags to their car for example, that does not cost you a penny.

My husband lives by this philosophy and he is an amazing man. We try to do one random act of kindness a day and the satisfaction is overwhelming. To the other commenter who is afraid of rejection, it does not hurt to ask. And don't be ashamed if they say they don't need help, it happens to us very frequently, specially because now a days you don't know if they are going to rob you or help you. But keep at it and you'll see so many people out there can use your wonderful help.

Pay it forward? Are you kidding? I've been struggling to make ends meet and pay my bills after being laid of from my job. I'm just trying to pay it (the bills) period. If any of you self-proclaimed wannabee philanthrophists want to help, donate to PayPal: austintxgal@hotmail.com. Trust me, I will have no trouble accepting any and all donations.

SWBONES...
That was a very nice comment..that really makes you think..but you know sometimes you feel like helping people out but how do you know if they want help.. you just never know..like me I guess I am like my father in a way but, one time there was this elderly man counting his change at the HEB and he looked like he didnt have enough and I felt like walking over and handing him a 20.00 .. and then in a matter of a milli-second I said what if he says no thank you then what?? I think people are more afraid of rejection then actually going to them and handing them the money..
because I thought what if he had said OH, I have money I just dont want to break my bills. I would be embarrassed..
do you understand what I am getting at..I guess that is why my dad would do.. on his way out of a place cause they would still be eating and they would be surprised when they asked for the bill and by that time he was long gone.... I hope you understand where I am coming from, too.. (just a Thought from my inner self..I guess society makes us feel like this) Thanks

Stop and help someone change a tire. Give someone a ride, Buying a soldiers’ meal. Someone short a couple of bucks at the checkout buying food for their child….. and the list goes on.
Things just because you are a man/woman of character and just, simply proper conduct of man.

Intersting you should mention that ... But my father would do that..I always wondered why he would do it..he would always pay someones elses bill...at a restuarant..he'd pick random people..I think it would make him feel good so he would do it..i thought he was crazy heeehhehe ..not really. I knew he had a heart of gold.. and was well-known throughout Victoria.. I know you are watching from heaven Dad I love you..