Some Classic Examples
In old movies, you see many examples of very nice characters who do kind things for their fellow men. In “Harvey” (1950), Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) is constantly doing nice things for everyone he meets, whether old friends or total strangers. Many people in his community consider him a crackpot because he likes to do generous things for others, while the medical personnel are trying to institutionalize a man who is saner than they are.Helping Others
In “The Voice of the Turtle” (1947), Sally (Eleanor Parker) lets Bill, a serviceman on leave (Ronald Reagan) sleep on the sofa in her apartment because there are no rooms available at any of the hotels in New York. When she tells a casting director that she has a soldier staying with her, he obviously infers that there is something untoward about the situation. He assumes that she is a loose woman instead of a sympathetic person who just felt sorry for a soldier who needed a place to stay out of the rain. She offers to cook Bill breakfast in the morning because she likes to do things for other people. She is a very sweet, loving young lady who just wants to find someone to love who will love her in a pure way.In “Night Song” (1948), a very wealthy young woman named Cathy (Merle Oberon) takes an interest in a blind pianist named Dan (Dana Andrews) when she hears him playing at a jazz club. His friend and fellow musician Chick (Hoagy Carmichael) also wants to help Dan stop being mad at the world because he lost his vision in a freak accident after returning from World War II. Cathy convinces Dan that she is also blind so that he won’t feel like she’s pitying him by becoming his friend and sweetheart. He needs $5000 for a surgery which could restore his sight, but Cathy knows that he won’t accept charity from her or anyone else. She uses her significant wealth to set up a music contest, which she encourages him to enter with one of his original pieces. He legitimately wins enough money to travel to New York for his surgery.
Kindness in Action
I know of a ballet dancer who would always give flowers to his dancing partners. He continued this practice with a partner who had had some difficulties with him during the production. Instead of receiving the flowers in the manner in which they were given, the young woman purposely left them in the dressing room to wilt. She didn’t even have the good manners to take them home with her, even to throw them away, so that he would not be hurt. Sadly, that was the last time he has ever given any of his partners flowers!I have also observed people who enjoyed giving gifts simply for the gift of giving, only to have their generosity met with hesitation and suspicion. People should not be afraid to show someone that they value them, their friendship, or their hard work. What ever happened to giving someone the “warm fuzzies” just out of pure kindness?
I challenge everyone to try and put the kindness illustrated in these wonderful film clips to practice. You could make a person’s life better just by doing something special for someone in your life. Don’t be afraid that people might think you’re a crackpot! Being a nice person is never crazy.
They say that nice guys finish last. That may be true in this world, but just remember: Your reward will be in heaven.