Would you return a large amount of cash if you found it?

 

Do you think someone would return your money if you lost it?

 

Here is my experience…

 

About 10 years ago, I took $1,500 in cash, put it in an envelope, slipped it into my pocket, and went about my day.

 

I had attended a seminar where my mentor said, “If you’d like to attract more wealth, carry around what you’d like to make in a day.”

 

I figured I’d try it. You never know.

 

On my way home, I stopped at the local supermarket.

 

When I got home, I reached into my pocket.

 

The envelope was gone.

 

I lost it.

 

I literally thought I was going to be sick.

 

After pulling myself together, I retraced my steps back to the supermarket.

 

I called first, awkwardly trying to explain that I had lost an envelope with a large amount of cash and asked if anyone had turned it in.

 

I almost felt foolish saying the words out loud.

 

The woman on the phone simply said, “Come in.”

 

I drove there as fast as I could.

 

It turned out that the cashier had found the envelope and turned it in.

 

Using my grocery rewards account, the manager was able to identify me and had placed the money safely in the store’s safe.

 

I tried to give the cashier a reward.

 

She smiled and refused to take it.

 

What a class act.

 

How was I so fortunate?

 

I’m not sure.

 

A few weeks before, I had found $60 in cash and turned it in without hesitation. Did that somehow come back to me? Maybe.

 

Or maybe I was simply fortunate enough to cross paths with an extraordinarily honest person.

 

I never carried that much cash again, and I’m not sure that exercise ever increased my income.

 

But it did something far more valuable.

 

It deepened my appreciation for the goodness that exists in people.

 

And it made me want to be one of them.

 

That is worth more than any amount of money I could have earned.

 

I often hear people say, “You have to watch out for people,” or, “Look what’s happening to the world.”

 

But that’s not the world I’ve experienced.

 

That cashier showed me something completely different.

 

I think everyone should be careful, but not so careful that they stop giving people chances and connecting with each other.

 

Because in the process of watching out for people we may be keeping the people away who will truly watch out for us.

 

I believe the epidemic of our times is mistrust and loneliness.

 

So this week, go be a blessing to someone.

 

Return lost money.

Pay for someone’s coffee.

Smile at a stranger.

Encourage someone.

 

Do whatever small act of kindness you can to connect with someone.

 

Help someone believe in the good of people and feel less lonely.

 

You’ll be blessing them as well as yourself.

 

And you’ll be richer than you ever imagined.

 

Here's an old song that reminds me of how we can change the world for the better. Enjoy!

 

 

Much love and blessings,

 

Bert