What’s the last selfless thing you did?

Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash

First let me clarify what I mean by selfless. Lets start with the dictionary version: “concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own; unselfish.” My version of acting selflessly is to do something to help someone or a living being (such as an animal) other than yourself (and your family because if you cannot act selflessly with your family then you may as well stop reading now) for the benefit of the being or person you are helping and not for your benefit. Being selfless does not mean you are never selfish as you have to do at least a few things for you. But it’s about the right balance of selfless vs selfish and doing the right thing.

I have learned a lot about people over the years both for better and for worse. My wife and I agree on 2 points here as we both think humanity is messed up (not completely but a lot) and that we like most animals more than most humans. That is really sad but here is why.

Think about all the things in your life which cause you stress, worry and anger. Now think about the root cause of each of those issues. I’m guessing majority of them is people because people have definitely been the biggest cause of those feelings for me in the past.

• Have you had a horrible boss or colleague?
• Have you been in a relationship with someone who treated you terribly?
• Have you had a friend who ended up acting more like an enemy?
• Have you walked up to your car to notice someone has hit it and not let you know?
• Have you seen someone treat an animal poorly? (The amount of animal cruelty that goes on globally is horrific)
• Have you seen someone jump into a line ahead of you when they had no right?
• Has a company acted wrong to hurt you in some way? Closed your bank account with little notice? Not shipped the product you ordered and refused to refund you?
• Has someone signed a contract with you and not lived up to the agreed terms?

Unfortunately, all these examples are all caused by people who were not acting selflessly. Now imagine a world where everyone was selfless most of the time. The above examples would not happen and we would live in a world with less stress, worry and anger. Of course, it’s not realistic but it’s nice to dream!

I try to be selfless most of the time and to do the right thing. I threw my ego out the window a long time ago. I know I’m not perfect and that’s ok. Rather than giving just our money (which we do give to some charities and friends in need), my wife and I give our time (which is our most valuable asset) to helping animals and in particular cats. We have adopted 6 cats so far of which 4 we rescued from either Battersea Dogs & Cats Home or Celia Hammond Animal Trust. Another cat we saved from a high kill shelter in the USA where she was a day away from being euthanised and flew over to London where she now lives happily. Plus we have been feeding 3 stray cats over the past 2 years of which we have saved one and re-homed.

Going forward, when I have a choice, I want to be around people who have chosen to be selfless. So in getting to know new people, I will ask the question, what was the last selfless thing you did? A person’s answer will in some ways define their character. So what’s your answer? Is that how you want to define yourself and be remembered?