Everyone is a “taker” of opportunities which interest them but not all of us are “givers” in return for the pleasure we have received. Following are a few ways I have found.
Giving Back to Central Park
For years, I have run — and now walk — in Central Park. Along the way, I have used the water fountains. And until a few years ago, many were of the old kind that accumulated plenty of dirt and grime. So one morning each month during the warm weather, I would go out and scrub several of them — as a way to do something for a place that has done so much for me. Below is a nice article by a reporter who saw what I was doing and asked about it.
On Quitting Smoking
I was very fortunate to quite smoking many years ago and so I like to try and inspire others to do the same. Sometimes when there is a young person smoking on the street, I stop and gently tell my story to them of how I managed to stop smoking and start running, in the hope that it will motivate them to do the same. I then ask them if they wanted to quit smoking. The usual answer is: I want to and I tried. I then hand them a packet of jelly beans with my email address and say, “Try these instead of reaching for a cigarette and you will find that by the time you have eaten five to ten of them, you should not feel the need for a cigarette. It really works! Try it and good luck. When it does, email me.”
