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I saved this story a long time ago, always wanting to write about it. Today's the day!
A teacher gave each pupil a balloon, who had to blow it up, write their name on it and throw it into the hallway. The teacher then shuffled all the balloons. The pupils had five minutes to find their own balloon. Despite a frantic search, very many did not find the balloon with their name on it.
At this point, the teacher asked the students to take the first balloon they found and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within a very short time, everyone had their own balloon.
The teacher told the students: "These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone only looks for their own. But if we take care of other people's happiness... we will find our own."
Sounds wonderful, do you agree?
I have thoughts about this...
It contradicts one of my mottos:
Life has no remote control, if you want to change it, you have to get up and change it yourself.
Also I tend to feel taken advantage of and would really like to experience some payback at some point.
Sometimes it really feels like I am the only one handing out balloons. The world appears to be full of people running past each other, looking only for their own. In the process they cut in line, cheat, and lie.
You can get tired of it. You can wonder if it’s worth it.
And yet there is something about holding a balloon for someone else, even when no one is holding one for you, that matters. You have to take care of yourself first, of course. Remember, you can't pour from a empty cup. Put on your oxygen mask before helping others, etc.
You have to breathe, have your own balloon filled, otherwise you can’t give anything at all.
Here are some ways to give out balloons:
- Active listening and presence: Sometimes just showing someone they matter, really paying attention, is the balloon they didn’t know they’d lost.
- Anticipating needs: Like noticing when someone is overwhelmed, hungry, or stressed, and stepping in in small ways.
- Validation and encouragement: Offering support or recognition, especially when others’ efforts are invisible to the world.
- Practical help: Running errands, sharing resources, or covering small gaps in someone’s life.
- Creating joy intentionally: Surprising someone with kindness, humor, or connection.
So is this balloon analogy an example for "it is more blessed to give than to receive"?
Does it mean you are part of something bigger, and it has to be enough?
What are your thoughts?
I think both things can be true at the same time and not necessarily an either or thing. Self care or making sure you have fuel in your tank, etc. is so very important. However, someone can get carried away with the "me first" approach. I think a good balance of self care and giving of yourself to others works well for me personally. I love the topic of your blog - good food for thought. Imagine if everyone did one nice thing for someone every day - what a beautiful world this would be!
ReplyDeleteI have learned the hard way that changing the channel also includes asking for help.
ReplyDeleteI too have often felt taken advantage of, I'm working to serve others while so many lie, cheat, jump the line without any remorse it seems...as much as that pains me, I don't want to be a person who does those things...even when I feel like I've been stepped on. So, I guess my answer is yeah, it does mean we're part of something bigger and it has to be enough.
ReplyDeleteI've read that before and thought how great to have each person for the one balloon they had. If this was years ago, I would think like you and wonder if I'm the only one handing out the balloons. But in just these almost two short years I realize there were many other handing them out and now I have so many through so many people who have and still are sharing their love and compassion without me even having to ask.
ReplyDelete