What is the most selfless thing that you have ever done for someone else?

1. 82

   homesteadboundposted 12 years ago

   What is the most selfless thing that you have ever done for someone else?
   
   Please define the scenario and what you did to change the life of someone else.

   replyreport
2. 0

   bmcoll3278posted 12 years ago

   Im not sure there is such a thing . Doing for others makes us happy so when we do it we are making our self's happy so it is kind of selfish but selfish in a good way.
   
   But I think it would be giving up what I want or need to give my kids what they need.

   replyreport
3. 91

   Sherry Hewinsposted 12 years ago

   I don't have anything all that life changing, but I remember a bunch of my friends wanted to go for a "Girls Night," and I really wanted to go too. But we didn't have a babysitter, and I volunteered to watch everybody's kids so they could go. I did feel kind of sorry for myself that I was missing the fun, but I felt good that not everybody had to.

   replyreport
4. 37

   edhanposted 12 years ago

   Taking care of a friend in the most desperate need. Helping him to recover from an injury and nurture him back a healthy state. I am happy to see that he is well again and can do all normal task in his daily life. Of course I do not expect any thing in return for what I had done. I only wish him all the best in his future life to be healthy.

   replyreport
5. 59

   Deborah Brooksposted 12 years ago

   I believe we should always think of the other person first. especially our family and friends.. We have a program at church.. that we help people in need with food or money or whatever they may need. These selfish people have taught me the meaning of real love and always thinking of the other person.

   replyreport
6. 69

   onegoodwomanposted 12 years ago

   All that you need to know, in the answering of this question.......
   
   
   I have given up and traded my tomorrows...............
   
   
   The details, are simply not for sale, for your " points"..........the fact is this..........I have caused pain and I have felt it......far too often.

   replyreport
7. 70

   connorjposted 12 years ago

   After I survived a coma and rehabilitated during the 1st 1/2 of 2003. I intercepted a drunk driver (October of 2003) with my Ford Escape so he did not side-impact a mini-van with 3 toddlers in the direct path of him... It was significantly selfless because I was in the right place at the right time; although I was in (complete) ignorance of this. I was indeed selfless indeed, because I believe Someone was acting through me and I was the unknowing pawn...

   replyreport
8. 78

   MickeySrposted 12 years ago

   This was almost tricky, because I agree with bmcoll3278 that really zeroing in on 'selfless' is not as easy as we might at first think - we ourselves do benefit in some manner, even merely getting a good feeling, when we simply do 'good deeds' . . . if we think of nice things we've done for others we might initially count that as an act of selflessness, but on further consideration we might well recognize a blessing or comfort we ourselves enjoyed in doing it.
   
   Like, I recall once getting a call in the middle of the night from one of my many daughters that she and her husband were stuck on a highway 50 miles from my house with a flat tire . . . they were about 7 miles from his parents house but he said his parents would never come out at that late hour to rescue them. When my daughter said she then would call me he assured her it was a waste of time and that I too would not come all that way and in the middle of the night to help them - her response was "Of course he will!'. That incident came to my mind first, but only because they (her husband) made such a fuss about the whole thing . . . and the truth is, I was delighted for an opportunity to play the hero fro my daughter, so, it may have been a bit sacrificial, but it was not a selfless act.
   
   But I say this question is 'almost tricky' because as I thought 'can I think of anything at all I ever do that is genuinely selfless, that I don't benefit from at all?' something instantly came to my mind; I kind of regularly feed or set-up humorous remarks or slide answers to questions to others around me, so that they can receive a bit of acclaim or praise . . . in Sunday School classes or small group Bible studies, etc, I will, following the direction of the conversation, say something that offers me up as a goof for someone to wise-crack about - or I'll sort of beat around the bush suggesting terms or names, etc, that prompts another to come-up with answer to a question.
   
   I suppose I do this because I like to see someone, perhaps a seemingly unlikely someone, shine for a moment . . . so, I do gain a mild enjoyment, but I don't feel or sense myself actually benefiting from this in any way, it's not helping me at all in any manner.

   replyreport
9. 60

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   I sort of believe that if we think and report our selfless acts then they are not really selfless anymore.  The entire deed becomes about us and how we acted in that moment.

   replyreport
10. 61

    DAWNEMARSposted 12 years ago

    I helped my friend when she was sick. However, I wanted her to get better because she was my friend. Therefore I have to conclude that this was not a truely selfless act. Interesting question. We let someone go in front if they only have a loaf of bread in the supermarket as this is just polite. Yet considering this question is difficult. Perhaps involvement of the self is required to be able to think of others needs as well as our own.

    replyreport
11. 59

    tlmcgaa70posted 12 years ago

    being there for my sister when she got an abortion, even though i begged her not to do it. i would have gladly adopted her baby, but she chose to do it anyway. she needed me for support and i could not say no.

    replyreport
12. 76

    anndavis25posted 12 years ago

    I'm still working on it.  I'd like to give my heart and mind 100 percent to Jesus, and even then, I'm selfish.  Because, in return, I want to experience the 'peace that passes understanding'.

    replyreport
13. 56

    ftclickposted 12 years ago

    I have helped feed strangers -( volunteer on holiday mornings.)
    
    reached and grabbed a food item for an older woman at the store
    
    tell my roommates a fire was happening in the house in the am..banging on their windows  (instincts I guess)

    replyreport
14. 60

    Dave Mathewsposted 12 years ago

    My act itself has not as yet been performed, BUT,  I AM an Organ Donor so when I die others will benefit from my organs.

    replyreport
15. 72

    CR Rookwoodposted 12 years ago

    Hmmmm. Well, I once had a philosophy teacher who bragged that he was the most humble person in class. He was trying to be funny, you know--bragging about his own humility. That's kind of funny, especially for a philosophy professor, since of all the things they tend to be known for, humility isn't usually one of them.
    
    So he looks at me and says, "I'm way humbler than you are, for instance." Like, trying to start something.
    
    And I said, "Yes you are. I defer to you completely."

    replyreport
16. 78

    Beata Stasakposted 12 years ago

    Paying for my sponsored child's education for the period of 15 years now, even in times I have very little money to spend on my own children. He wants to be a doctor and I hope I will be able to pay for him to 'fullfill his dream and help his countrymen for better health'

    replyreport
17. 79

    procreate-lightposted 12 years ago

    Putting my job on the line and spearheading a human resources investigation (for two of my co-workers) into the management practices and abuse a former boss of mine used when I worked for Glaxo.  He was a malicious, and cruel manager who actually proudly used to boast that he used the Management Style of Atilla the Hun. 
    He would isolate and manipulate our district sales team members. Lie to us, steal other company's pharmaceutical samples out of physician's sample closets, intimidate and threaten us with our jobs etc, etc, etc...
    When two of them started having severe emotional problems and one was hospitalized with heart stress (at 28 years old) I found a way to overcome my fear of (losing my job/severe retribution) and reported him to HR.  It was a very stressful and anxious period, with veiled threats issued towards me, but finally HR came in and did one on one interviews with each member. The manager was placed on leave and eventually fired, only to sue the company later for "age discrimination" and other accusations. Glaxo in all their wisdom, paid him off to go away.
    I relocated to another state and district and stayed on another year, but never really got over it, or the fact that so many people in "upper management" knew about his behavior and tactics, but liked his results while they turned a blind eye to his methods.
    In my opinion, the end does not justify the means, EVER, if those means are immoral or unethical.  But Big money corporations don't work that way, sadly.

    replyreport
18. 59

    Quirinusposted 11 years ago

    Providing the opportunity to exercise one's freedom or independence. 
    I have refrained from the disciplinary stance of having my children follow exactly as I say.  I express my preference and let them decide.  I guess it is in this way that they have learned independence and strength of character.
    An example scenario: I would rather they not leave the house late at night; I express my preference, but in the end, it is still up to them what to decide.  On my part, it is a difficult thing to experience fear for their lives while they are away late at night but I do not fight with them over it.
    Another example is in the choice of spiritual beliefs.  I simply let them choose what they feel would be best for them, not imposing my own belief system on them.
    This is the general stance I tend to take towards everyone: express my preference but leave up to the person to decide what is in their best interest.

    replyreport
    1. 82

       homesteadboundposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       How old are your children?

       replyreport