Every one of us

It’s a very pleasant thing to be proved right occasionally. Too often would probably lead to inflated egotism; not often enough, a crisis of confidence. It’s not that I think I am any kind of sage with real wisdom, either; it’s just reassuring when something that you hold to be true proves itself out in someone else’s life, too.

Intelligent Librarian, who figured out who I am just by reading my posts and thinking they sounded like me, told me excitedly one day, “Someone just came and told me that the information I gave them helped them!”

“That was kind of them,” I said. “Who was it?”

“Well, a few weeks ago, a man came in and needed help doing his resume online and attaching it to an application. I helped him a little bit, no big deal, until we got it figured out and sent. He was really relieved to have it all taken care of, and I wished him luck with the job.”

“Not a big deal to you, but major to him. What job was it?”

“He was applying for a teaching position at one of the high schools, “ she said. “This is his first teaching job, and he was really nervous, wanting to do everything right.”

“Of course,” I said. “Must make a good impression.” We laughed.

“Today he came back,” she said. “He said he just wanted to tell me he had an interview and he got the job! I was so happy for him, and really glad he came back to tell me about it.”

“It’s really satisfying,” I agreed.

“This is something that would happen to the Feel-good Librarian,” she said. “I never thought it would happen to ME.”

“I keep telling you….”

I keep telling everybody - you can do it no matter who you are or what your job is. Caring about people and letting them know it makes a difference in their day. Big difference or small difference, when you make it happen for other people, it makes a difference in your life, too.

We’ll start a club: the Feel-good Mail carrier, the Feel-good Grocery store clerk, the Feel-good Professor, the Feel-good Piano tuner. Go on, don’t be afraid. Take that extra five seconds and make it happen to you, too.

After all - the more, the merrier.

Comments

[feel good piano tuner]

It always amazes me how we all have the opportunity to help out, no matter where we are. I find myself doing some of the oddest things at people's houses, from diapering babies to cutting ferrets' toenails. And it always feels good to do the little extra.
Keep up the wonderful blog!

[maire]

My fav is the undergrad that came into the SLIS library (which is hidden in the basement of the main library) one morning around 10:00 a.m. He needed a psych article for his class, which was in a couple of hours of course. First I told him he was in the wrong place, but then I told him which floor he needed to go to. About an hour later he came back in to SLIS and thanked me. He had his article and time to spare. It made me all warm and fuzzy and, I was amazed he found the place twice. ;)

[Melissa Techman]

I'm so glad Marylaine Block mentioned your blog. I think you are the "Inspirational Librarian". I became a librarian thanks to the good-hearted library director at our neighborhood library. Her name was Marilyn Yaple and I still use things she taught me every day. She was patient with the "walk in the door at 5 till 5 patron" (me) and the "I have another fine patron" (me), then she encouraged me to apply to get my MLS and gave me my first library job. She died too young from lung cancer and a lot of people miss her.
At my school, I try to be the good-hearted library teacher. Thanks for a super blog!

[Cheryl Rhoads]

I just wanted to say--what a wonderful blog. We all should remember that to help someone--to relieve some of their stress--lowers everyones stress level. Stress is catching but then so are smiles!!

[iman]

wonderful librarian you are :)

[iman]

wonderful librarian you are :)

[maria]

Dear Feel Good Librarian,

Just wanted to tell you that
I very much enjoy reading your
blog.

Marie