I describe the years in which I wandered, performed, and did wild things as my time as a Pius Itinerant. It was years afterward that I realized that it was made possible only by the generous gifts and acts of kindness of others. At the time I was doing it, I assumed it was my native cleverness. But that was in fact just pride. I survived on the kindness of friends and strangers. In my mind, there is no cloudiness about this issue. The generosity of others was critical.
I suspected that I was unique, but it was a combination of luck and generosity. Most often it was meals, a place to stay while in town, and a fiver to tide me over until some casual job paid off.
Reading the above, you’d think that it was all on others, but I do deserve some of the credit. I was honest, avoided crippling addictions, and was eager to work.
Work: Clean the gutters on your house? Wash dishes? Shovel out the muck? Sure. Next week I’d get a gig that would last, and I’d become a star.
Honest: I didn’t steal from the people who helped me. I returned good for good when I had money, food, or could do a favor.
Addiction: I grew up in New York City; by the time I headed out on the road, I had seen the effects of overindulgence and abuse. I had also received a seaman’s briefing on life from my uncles and father about what happened with drugs. I steered clear of more than casual experimentation and was fortunate in my friends who also refused to be involved. It’s hard to estimate the value of falling in with friends who, while being “free-spirited,” were also practical and avoided drugs and crime.
I can’t point to one act of generosity that was supreme. I was fortunate in many things. I also benefitted form what may be the greatest acts of generosity – the willingness of people to be generous in their advice to you, and demonstrating practical wisdom by their style of life ( an example).
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
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I believe our survival depends more on the kindness of others (and perhaps our kindness to others) than we are usually aware. My injury last year brought that home to me — literally.
Small kindnesses are sometime grander things than obvious generosity. Sometimes I think people and things are put in our path to scoot us along in the best of ways. I’m always grateful.
Kindness perhaps is the most underrated emotions of all. As much as we have heard that a little act of kindness can reap wonders, we often take it for granted sadly. Many of us carry so much within our hearts, invisible to the world, and when a surprising act of kindness from a stranger greets us, may be someone holding the door for us, or someone at the convenience store genuinely asks about it, the burdens seem to magically lighten. Kindness truly is wondrous.