How Small Acts of Kindness Can Transform Our World

Special moments sometimes align in meaningful ways. When I launched this podcast exactly one year ago on July 3rd, I had no idea it was my Pop's birthday until my sister-in-law pointed it out. Now, as we celebrate our first anniversary, we're dedicating this episode to Frank J. Mirarchi, who would have turned 99 today.

What made my Pop's generation "the greatest" wasn't just their historical significance - it was their remarkable selflessness. Growing up through the Depression, they didn't think twice about giving the shirts off their backs, helping neighbors, or extending themselves for others. It wasn't special to them; it was simply how they lived.

True selflessness means constantly tuning your awareness to opportunities where you might help. I share personal stories, from paying for a stranger's gas to giving up my hotel room, that illustrate how small acts create ripple effects far beyond their original impact. The most powerful aspect of selflessness? When done without broadcasting it to the world, it transforms from occasional good deeds into a lifestyle that brings profound meaning and satisfaction.

The contrast between selflessness and selfishness becomes starkly apparent in our daily interactions. Even when someone doesn't appreciate your help (which sometimes happens), the act itself remains meaningful and observed by others. Every day presents countless chances to make someone's day brighter through a smile, a helping hand, or simply being present for their needs.

Ready to experience the joy that comes from putting others first? Start looking for opportunities today. Imagine how different our world would be if we all lived with the selfless spirit that defined my Pop's generation. Subscribe to join our community of positive change-makers and discover how small acts of kindness can create extraordinary impact.

Link to my website: The Toilet Paper Salesman ™ – Who Says Selling Toilet Paper isn’t Glamorous? ™

Link to my book: Wisdom from a Toilet Paper Salesman | BookBaby Bookshop

Link to buy Toilet Paper Salesman swag: My Store

Link to David Mirarchi's website: David Mirarchi

Link to RJ Schinner Co, Inc: RJ Schinner | Home

Transcript

Speaker 0 0:19

Welcome to the Toilet Paper Salesman podcast. This is a really special episode because it marks our one-year anniversary as a podcast. Last year, on July 3rd, I decided that I was going to release my podcast on that date because it was before the 4th of July and I felt like it would be a good opportunity for someone. If they wanted to listen to it Over the weekend, they would have that chance. So I released it on July 3rd, my first podcast. I was talking to my brother and sister-in-law, I let them know that my first podcast episode was out and my sister-in-law said to me do you know? It's your pop's birthday on July 3rd? And honestly, it didn't dawn on me. I guess that's not good, but on the other hand, it was amazing that I had released my first podcast episode on my pop's birthday. And this, my one-year anniversary podcast episode, is being dedicated to my pop, frank J Mararki, who would actually be 99 years old on this date. He was born July 3rd 1926.

Gas Station Act of Kindness

Speaker 0 1:26

What we're going to talk about today is selflessness, because selflessness is what defined my pop. You know my pop, part of the greatest generation. Well, what made the greatest generation is the fact that it was a selflessness that these men and women had the society back then. They gave their shirts off their back for each other because, frankly, it was hard and going through the depression and they didn't have a lot. So they were the type of people that were truly selfless. So today we're going to talk about selflessness. What is selflessness anyway? What is it? And it simply just means that you're putting others before yourself. It's a mindset, it's a way to live. When you see a neighbor in need, when you see somebody who happens to need something, you just help them. Unfortunately, today you don't see a lot of it happening, and when you do see it happen, it's kind of like this big deal. How does selflessness work? How do you go about being selfless? It is that you're looking for opportunities to help. You're kind of tuned in your radio to see where an opportunity presents itself and you just step in and help. I'll give you an example.

Speaker 0 2:37

I was in Springfield, massachusetts, and I needed to get gas for my car. So I pull into the gas station and I'm filling up my car and I noticed that there was a gentleman right next to me on the other gas pump and he was filling his truck, and so when I went up to pay. He was right in front of me and he went to charge his gas and didn't have the money. His card didn't go through and so he was going to go back to his truck and get another credit card. And so I stepped in and I simply said do you want me to pay for your gas? And he was like no, no, you don't have to do that. And I was like no, I want to pay for your gas, how much is it? And he said I need $30.

Speaker 0 3:16

So I happened to have $10 bills that day. For some reason, I usually, when I get cash out of the ATM, I get $20 bills, but, whatever reason, I had $10 bills. I gave him $30. And he was like oh my gosh, I can't believe you did that and it was great.

Speaker 0 3:32

So then I turn around and there's a guy behind me and he said I need money for food. He was homeless. So I gave him $10. And then I turned back around. I was in line to get a bottle of water and the lady who was the attendant saw everything that just happened and said what do you need? And I said I'd love to have a bottle of water. And she goes. Well, based on everything that I just saw. I guess I should just give it to you. And so she gave me the bottle of water.

Speaker 0 3:59

Now, I'm not telling you any of that to brag. I'm not telling you any of that to say that I'm great or anything like that. I'm using it as an example of selflessness, of how it works. I'm in that situation. I'm at the gas station. The guy doesn't have the money. I could see he's struggling. You know, what was the best part about it is, when I went back to my car, he obviously told his girlfriend that I paid for the gas, and you just saw the look on her face of joy that, oh my gosh, we got the gas paid for and now we can do what we were going to do during the day. It just made their day that somebody gave them $30 to pay for their gas, and so sometimes it's just a little thing, it's not a lot.

Selflessness as a Lifestyle

Speaker 0 4:43

Selflessness is a way of life, it's just the way you live, and, like I said, you're just looking for opportunities to help people. That's all it is. The one thing that really bothers me, though, and I must tell you, because if you decide that you want to become more selfless, don't tell anybody that you do it. Just do stuff, just help people. You don't have to broadcast it. The thing that bothers me the most is somebody does something and then they'll put it on LinkedIn or put it on something else. It's like, oh, look at me, I helped somebody and it's like, okay, you know, I understand why you might want to do that. Because you're telling others, you know whatever. You make them feel good. But what makes you feel best is when you don't tell somebody and it becomes a lifestyle. Then, when you go out to a store anywhere, you're always looking for the opportunity to help somebody else out. That's truly what selflessness is.

Speaker 0 5:35

When I talk about my pop in particular and my mom, they helped everybody. I mean they literally gave the shirts off their back. Somebody needed a place to stay they let them stay. Somebody needed money? They gave them money. They had a flat tire. My pop would go over and fix it. If they needed their lawn mowed, he'd make it happen. No matter what was needed, no matter what was called for, he was there to help. And my mom was the same exact way. It was just a lifestyle. It was the way they lived. It was who they are Selflessness.

Speaker 0 6:09

Selflessness is the key. Not only that, the joy and satisfaction you get from helping others. You know when you go and volunteer if you've ever gone somewhere and volunteered how good you feel. When you're volunteering. You have a big smile on your face. Usually it makes you happy and joyful. It really gives your life meaning when you help others.

Making the World Better Through Selflessness

Speaker 0 6:31

That's what this episode is dedicated towards is how can we help others get success and what is success for them? How can we help others live their lives? How can we help others gain joy? There's so much hardship going on today. There's so many things in society that are difficult. There's people who can't find jobs, etc. How can we help them to be happier? How can we help them to be more, etc. How can we help them to be happier? How can we help them to be more successful? How can we help them to just have a better day? You can either make somebody's day or break somebody's day depending on how you act towards them, depending how you deal with them. And here's the other thing Sometimes, when you do things, it's not appreciated.

Speaker 0 7:08

It does happen, and this is in stories in my book. I was checking into a hotel and I had a king size bed. And when I checked in, there was a lady aside of me complaining that she didn't have a king size room. And so I'm standing in front of the person who's checking me in and I said you know, she can have my room if she wants, no problem. And so they're like, really? And I'm like, yeah, I don't need a king-size bed. If it's going to make her happy, let her have the king-size bed. They did, and they told her that I had given her my room. Well, she barely gave me a thank you and then she proceeded to complain that the price of the room was too expensive. And so sometimes, even though you help someone, even though you reach out to them and give them a hand, sometimes they don't appreciate it. And you know what? That's okay, because what happened was everybody behind the counter saw the difference between the person who was selfless and the person who was selfish. It was such a contrast for them that they could see the difference.

Speaker 0 8:07

As you live your life day by day, live your life selflessly, look for opportunities to help people, look for opportunities to give them a hand, look for opportunities just to make their day brighter, whether it's a smile, whether you actually give them money, whether you help change their flat tire, whatever it is. Look for opportunities to be selfless, because if you do, not only will your life be better, but the world will be better. It will be a better place. Just imagine if everyone lived selflessly. It would be an amazing place where we live, and those who are selfless are the ones who make the world better. It's amazing that I was able to be raised by my father and my mother, who were selfless and were able to teach me this no-transcript. Thanks a lot and have a great day.