Knock knock, who's there?

Since I was lazy and left fundraising for this year's 40 hour famine to the last moment possible, yesterday I scrunched up my courage and desperately pulled out my last resort: doorknocking.

Let me say that doorknocking to raise money is not for the faint-hearted - when standing behind a screen door, even the smallest kids suddenly seem tall and intimidating, not to the mention the adults that peer at you suspicuously through the mesh screens. And yes, there are ruthless people who will close the door in your face. Yes, even my irrestible baby face :(

Luckily the hills area is the nicest area in the world, and I only dealt with one or two of those. People usually took an interest and donated $3 - $5 and one friendly man even gave me TEN DOLLARS, which sent me ecstatically skipping down his driveway LOL. No wonder people looked at me strangely.

But I'd like to tell you about one of the last houses I came to, as the light began fading and my feet began dragging. The asian women who answered the door listening to my spiel patiently, but then gestured to the old man in a wheelchair behind her.

'This is a disabled household and I just work here. We have no money.'

I went pretty red in the face and apologised before turning to leave. Then a frail voice from behind the door told me to wait.
It was the old man, who looked at me intently before asking the woman to bring him an envelope from his room.
'My daughter told me to use this well,' he said, hands trembling as he handed the envelope to me. 'And I hope I am.' After that he suddenly wheeled back and the woman bade me goodbye before shutting the door.

I waited til I walked back to the main street before tearing open the envelope. And when I saw the contents, I almost cried.
It was a fifty dollar note.

Giving to others despite your own circumstances - that's something that definitely makes people smile, and I really learnt something from the actions of one old disabled man.

Did you?

Remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)