For the Love of Helping Others

I've always been one who has been drawn to helping others. I guess I've always had that little voice in the back of my head that said, "Susan... you should be there for people when they are in need." It started when I was younger and grew with me as I grew up, and when I hit my older teens I did the best I could to satisfy that hunger to help. When I turned 18 I volunteered as a firefighter in my city. While doing that I started the process to become a police officer. I decided to turn away from that calling and I enlisted in the Army instead. My military career was cut way short when I got very sick with mono even before I ever got to basic training. With my head hung low in disappointment I came home after being medically discharged. To this day I still find that voice calling me every time I see a fire truck, ambulance or a police car whiz by... or when I see tragedy on TV, I feel like I should be there helping as a first responder.

Even though I decided to never professionally walk in that direction, I still get satisfaction in helping others any way I can. For instance... as we all know I paint furniture, and in the last few years I've had some magnificent people mentor me during my journey. As many times as I have thanked those wonderful people I feel like a simple thanks will never be enough to show my appreciation. I feel like I should keep moving that loving help forward to others as they gave that love and help to me. Even though I have this somewhat mediocre retail job at a local Home Depot in the paint department, I still find myself satisfying that little voice in my head every time a lost soul comes in with a furniture painting project. I devote one-on-one time to make sure by the time they leave my store they are not overwhelmed, scared, anxious or confused by any part of their project's process. I've recommended my friend Barb's book "Furniture Makeovers" a bunch of times and I even give customers my Facebook fan page to make sure that if they ever get stuck in any part of their project, they can contact me outside of the store for help. I've been contacted many times and every time I did my best to try to help.

And then things like this happen: I get pictures... and I am blown away.

HELLO DOLLY....

Look at that beautiful natural top on that white table... 

You had me at hello, dear.

I have to say that I am very impressed with Ms. T and her ability to transform this table and chairs into a pretty matching set on her first shot ever working on furniture. Even though there were a few hiccups along the way in her process, she pulled through and I give her mega-props. Hopefully I'll get a "in their natural habitat" picture in her kitchen all set up nice and pretty so I can share it with you.

But as for now let's all ooo and ahhh together for a second at that 2nd picture again...

haha!

Alrighty ladies and gents, I am out of here!

Thanks for stopping by, and remember... take a minute or two today and help your fellow neighbor, friend or even a stranger. Show this world that there is still hope for humanity among all the negative chaos.

XO,