Kindness Still Exists

[npl_texas]

Today's world is different from the world I grew up in as a kid.  I'm 35 but the world has changed tremendously in the last 20 years.  If you only watched the news you'd think the whole world has gone to hell. 

 

Just yesterday about 45 miles southeast from where I currently live and much closer to where I grew up there was a mass shooting.  When you reflect on these kinds of things the world seems like a really scary place full of bad people.

 

What the hell am I talking about this on a bass forum for?  

 

I purchased a very nice reel from a very nice member of this forum.  The communication was great and he even engaged me in some conversation.  I thought the questions a little strange but nice enough.  When I received my reel the I noticed the heaviness of the box; the reel I purchased is one of the lightest on the market.  When I opened the box I found it jam packed with soft plastics, jigs, jerkbait, lipless, etc.  

 

This gentleman had no reason to send me all of this stuff but he did out of the kindness of his heart.  Gestures like these keep my faith in humanity strong, they take away the negativity.  It may be a relatively small gesture in the grand scheme of things but if more people made an effort to do things similarly the world would be a better place.

 

I vow to pay it forward and become more like this man I don't know, with more kind gestures wanting nothing in return.

 

Thank you @BasserJim

[CroakHunter]

Awesome story. My family just experienced the same kind of self-less act. They had their alternator go out and were broken down about 1.5 hrs from home. A nice guy in a service truck was nice enough to let my grandpa use his tools and take him to a parts store to buy a new one and made sure my grandpa got it fixed before leaving. He wouldn't accept money or even dinner. He just said "pay it forward". There are still good people out there!

[volzfan59]

A member on the RiverSmallies forum (I hope it's ok to mention that) had a book on kayak fishing for smallmouth that I was searching for. It is out of production and hard to find. I had bought a copy of the book, loaned it out and never got it back. This guy mailed me a his copy. Wouldn't take a penny for the book or postage. Just asked me to pay it forward. Good people are out there.

[BasserJim]

@npl_texas you’re very welcome. Like I said, I was out of packing peanuts and couldn’t let that nice reel just bounce all around in the box.  It was some stuff I had laying around that doesn’t really any longer suit the type of fishing I prefer to do (I’d much rather be finesse fishing). I’ve had many random acts of kindness gifted upon me over the years, and I try and pay that forward as often as possible. Both because I’m able to do so, and because I have a 2 year old little boy who I’m trying to lead by example. He’s still a little young to catch on, but I’m trying to stay in good practice. Hope you enjoy the reel and the baits and have a great holiday season. 

[TOXIC]

The mainstream media would ruin everyone's attitude if that's all you listened to.  They have thrown true journalism under the bus and become headline grabbing, politically influenced, sensationalists.  I watch for the local "bread and butter" stories and disregard everything that is obviously more editorial than news.  

[Koz]

15 hours ago, BasserJim said:

@npl_texas Both because I’m able to do so, and because I have a 2 year old little boy who I’m trying to lead by example. He’s still a little young to catch on, but I’m trying to stay in good practice.

 

By all means keep that up. I won't go into details, but I have raised my 12 year old son with the mantra "Always do the right thing" and that simple random acts of kindness can help people in untold ways. As frustrating as my pre-teen can be at times (you'll learn!), he is still grounded in those lessons he learned at an early age.

[geo g]

What a great story, there are still great people around among us,in all walks of life, races, economical levels, and political beliefs.  Thanks for this post, it brought a big smile to my face just knowing this gentleman is out among us.  

Basser Jim, you have touched many with your kindness.

[everythingthatswims]

Every time I catch a non-bass that would be good on someone's table, I put it in the well and try to give it away, not hard to find someone at a boat ramp or on the bank who would love some fish.

 

At Lay Lake, my most successful college fishing event, my partner and I found an incredible pattern after two days of TOUGH fishing. It happened almost immediately after I trolled over to the bank to hand off some fish that I was catching. Fish will pay it forward too!

[Oregon Native]

19 hours ago, TOXIC said:

The mainstream media would ruin everyone's attitude if that's all you listened to.  They have thrown true journalism under the bus and become headline grabbing, politically influenced, sensationalists.  I watch for the local "bread and butter" stories and disregard everything that is obviously more editorial than news.  

Amen

10 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

Every time I catch a non-bass that would be good on someone's table, I put it in the well and try to give it away, not hard to find someone at a boat ramp or on the bank who would love some fish.

 

At Lay Lake, my most successful college fishing event, my partner and I found an incredible pattern after two days of TOUGH fishing. It happened almost immediately after I trolled over to the bank to hand off some fish that I was catching. Fish will pay it forward too!

Used to give away fish when younger....neighbors started calling and putting in orders for fish because company was coming or whatever.   DONE

Now I just like giving away tackle to high school teams or kids at ramps.....mucho better

[68camaro]

Mid-90's buddy and I used to crappie fish at night. At dawn we'd come back to ramp, we'd keep a few fish but give the rest to folks fishing by ramp, usually several dozen fish at least. People were very happy.

 

One time we came back to ramp and someones bassboat was sitting on top of dock, seems they had too much to drink that night, It was litllerally on the dock: so they had to hit that thing hard.

[scaleface]

2 hours ago, Oregon Native said:

Used to give away fish when younger....neighbors started calling and putting in orders for fish because company was coming or whatever.   DONE

LOL .   Hey want to come to a fish fry ?  Bring a bunch of crappie fillet's  over  and we will have one .

[Paul Roberts]

Lots of kind people out there. I'd say most. They just don't make the news all that often. Thanks for posting this.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Really nice to see there's good people left. I am blessed with way too much stuff so I always give gear away to locals I encounter that don't have much. Funny story, one of my sons friends at school loves to fish. Him and his dad are from a rough neighborhood and he told my son they can't afford tackle. On top of that his old Shakespeare reel had broken. I told my son to ask him what they liked to use most. The little guy actually put together a wish list, lol. Me and my son put together this HUGE package for them. At least 10lbs of soft plastics alone. Cranks, frogs, hooks, weights, spinner baits and even a like new Daiwa excellor reel. Well, I happen to have left a couple specific things of the list that I just didn't have. The little boy takes the stuff and looks all through it and noticed the missing items and tells my son they're no longer friends until he brings him the rest of the stuff he asked for! My son was kind of heart broken because he doesn't yet understand the world(he cried). I thought it was pretty funny myself that a young kid thinks that way so early on.

[everythingthatswims]

22 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Really nice to see there's good people left. I am blessed with way too much stuff so I always give gear away to locals I encounter that don't have much. Funny story, one of my sons friends at school loves to fish. Him and his dad are from a rough neighborhood and he told my son they can't afford tackle. On top of that his old Shakespeare reel had broken. I told my son to ask him what they liked to use most. The little guy actually put together a wish list, lol. Me and my son put together this HUGE package for them. At least 10lbs of soft plastics alone. Cranks, frogs, hooks, weights, spinner baits and even a like new Daiwa excellor reel. Well, I happen to have left a couple specific things of the list that I just didn't have. The little boy takes the stuff and looks all through it and noticed the missing items and tells my son they're no longer friends until he brings him the rest of the stuff he asked for! My son was kind of heart broken because he doesn't yet understand the world(he cried). I thought it was pretty funny myself that a young kid thinks that way so early on.

I guess you could trace that back to the Dad. Then again there's probably someone or something to trace back to before him as well. It goes on and on. Good job trying!