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200 words, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, doing the right thing, grace, growing up, integrity, judging, kindness, living in the moment, lost wallet, love, world issues
Lets have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. – Abe Lincoln
Yesterday my friend Helga was telling me about a movie she recently saw about a man who finds a wallet.
The man who finds the wallet initially intends to return it; in the absence of ID, the man calls the name and number on a slip of paper he finds tucked deep in the wallet.
The person agrees to call the owner of the wallet and pass on the wallet-finding man’s contact information.
Later, the man finds a lottery ticket tucked into the wallet and checks the number.
It’s a winner.
And now the man begins to struggle with his initial intention.
It’s easy to judge this man.
We’d like to think that we would do the right thing.
But doing the right thing isn’t always easy.
If it were, wouldn’t everybody be doing it?
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Often, doing the right thing takes us off track, or costs us in some way. I can’t help thinking that the price of not doing the right thing though, is ultimately more costly.
Minuscule Moments said:
Diana I found a bag on the underground train in London the man tapped the window and I made a pact to meet him at the next station. When I returned his bag he could not believe his luck. There were thousands of pounds in there as he was travelling from Africa. i did not want a reward. A couple of weeks later I left my wallet at a teller and when I ran back to get it a British man in a Trilby hat handed it to me saying he was about to drop it off at the local police station. What goes around comes around.
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dianasschwenk said:
I so can relate to this Kath, has happened to me several times. Thanks for sharing your story here. ❤
Diana xo
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Travel Spirit said:
You have to live with yourself…it feels good to do the “right” thing!
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dianasschwenk said:
You do, don’t you Sherry ❤
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
It’s not always the easy the thing, but it’s pretty easy to know it’s the right thing, Diana. Right? 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
a great proverb-sounding statement Mark! ❤
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
Yeah, if you edit out my second ‘the’ in that comment, it would sound like English, too, Diana. Dagnabbit!
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dianasschwenk said:
I knew what you meant…but I know what you mean. I have often wished I could edit my comment on another person’s blog. A good lesson in humility for me. 😀 Actually I don’t even care that much anymore because everyone here is so gracious. ❤
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markbialczak said:
People are indeed good about fixing if you ask, Diana. I am comforted by our BloggyVille community, yes, indeed. I’m with you, too, about caring less about the perfection and letting the world keep spinning away. Yet on my mind, of course, is the knowledge that I have reporter/editor on my resume and I assume my blog will be monitored during any job-seeking process. 🙂
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elizabeth2560 said:
Fantastic post Diana. I would hope that I would always do the right thing
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dianasschwenk said:
thanks Elizabeth. ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a world where the question of returning someone’s lost property was a no-brainer? Or knowing that, if you lost your wallet, phone, or bag, someone would be sure to return it intact?
A novel I’m reading (written in 1969) has a line I found intriguing: “Western culture is undergoing a process of transition from guilt-oriented, with a conscience, to shame-oriented, with a morbid fear of being found out.” I suspect the advent of “reality” TV has all but eliminated our ability to even feel shame. The talk these days is about what is legal, not what is right.
Which made the Pope’s visit, and his message, very interesting. I can only wonder if it will have any impact.
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dianasschwenk said:
It would be wonderful to live in a world like that Smitty. I like that line in the novel you’re reading as well. Thanks for this lovely comment. ❤
Diana xo
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
I agree with your quote, Diana. A clear conscience is priceless. My mind is running away with this plot idea, and I can definitely see how a whole movie could revolve around it.
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy
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dianasschwenk said:
Nothing quite like it Wendy. ❤
Diana xo
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Healing Grief said:
Thought provoking post Diana. I have never had anything stolen from me, no break ins either. I guess if I found a wallet I would imagine how annoying and scary that might be for the person who dropped it, rather than think what’s in it for me.? I think we all win when we have a good attitude. ❤️❤️
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dianasschwenk said:
I think so too Karen, thanks for chiming in! ❤
Diana xo
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jmgoyder said:
Oh no! I am bad! I was at the local shop the other day and I swooped on the $10 note on the floor. Usually I am more moral!
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dianasschwenk said:
We’ve all taken $$ If you can believe it once, I dropped a $10 bill while in line at Starbucks and the guy behind me claimed it was his, but my pocket was $10 short. I let it go. 🙂 ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Actually I’ve had this happen several times…..found $3,000 of cheques, visa payments and cash in a bag on a bus. Gave it to bus driver. I was 19 yrs. old.
Since then, I’ve misplaced my wallet 4 times…2 occasions it was mailed back to me from London to K-W, from Nantucket Island ferry in Massachussetts to Toronto.
Cannot even begin to say that I wished for those who I didn’t know made the return, I wish I knew the Good Samaritans.
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dianasschwenk said:
That’s amazing Jean. I have had my purse returned to me with everything including cash three times and stolen right out of my locked car once. ❤
Replacing ID sucks! ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
My problem was leaving important stuff behind..on a ferry boat, cafeteria tray, in a public washroom…
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dianasschwenk said:
I hate when I do that!
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russtowne said:
I especially like the last sentence of your post, Diana.
Russ
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you so much Russ. ❤
Diana xo
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Chatter Master said:
We do ‘want’ to do what’s right don’t we? But I would have to stand in the line of “have failed” as well. Great post Diana.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Colleen. The spirit is willing… ❤
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
Doing the right thing isn’t that easy I do try to do what is right but at times I have failed
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dianasschwenk said:
As have we all Jo-Anne ❤ But like you, I keep trying. 🙂
Diana xo
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Ann Koplow said:
I’ve gotten off track, Diana, and haven’t visited here lately. Dare I say that I always learn something when I drop by?
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dianasschwenk said:
😀 It’s always good to see you here, or at your place Ann. ❤
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
I like the reminder about the cost of not doing the right thing … and living with ourselves and the consequences. Makes me pause and wonder Diana!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Val, so glad it speaks to you. ❤
Diana xo
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Diana … Temptation does test us. But I hope that I would do the right thing no matter how much money is involved. I love John Lennon’s song, “Instant Karma.” 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes it sure does Judy. And it’s not always money, sometimes it’s power, or fame, or lust or…. ❤
Diana xo
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Don Royster said:
That’s why I am glad there are those around to remind me of this:
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dianasschwenk said:
Love John Lennon – thanks for sharing this vid Don! ❤
Diana xo
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Jennifer's Journal said:
I’d like to see that movie! Funny how the simplest of ideas are often the best for a plot.
Temptation confronts us at every turn to hinder us from doing the right thing. But you do have to live with the consequences if you give in!
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes. That’s so true Jennifer! ❤
Diana xo
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Graham With Hats said:
Perhaps doing the right thing for the sake of our ego is not so strong as having true compassion. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Interesting thought Graham, thanks for sharing it here! ❤
Diana xo
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Denise Hisey said:
This sounds like a very intriguing movie!
I have often wondered if it’s a similar situation for politicians… Starting off with intentions to do the right thing …and then….something seems to go haywire.
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dianasschwenk said:
Hmmm interesting thought Denise, I wonder… ❤
Diana xo
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Graham With Hats said:
You have a point. I’ve seen this in local politics. There comes a point when a person is persuaded, or persuades themselves, that they deserve something in return for all their hard work and frustration. But, it appears, such were always working for their own hubris anyway. Still, over time the human race has improved. 🙂
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