We've all heard of the old phrase: "nice guys finish last" however, yesterday I had an opportunity to put a lie to that old saying and help score a win for a very good guy.

Let me paint you a picture of this person. First off, he's quiet, and rarely speaks, one of those types that'd be overlooked at a meeting or other event. Keeps to himself, and is never involved in drama.

The Invisible People

He's essentially one of what I call 'The Invisible People.' Quiet and kind souls that would give you the shirt off their back while never attracting attention for doing so. If you've read my posts over the years you know these are EXACTLY the types of people that I seem to notice.

I tend to notice these people because I know what it's like to be shunned due to the speech disability that kept me isolated from my peers as a boy. While my 10-year effort to conquer that disability was successful, I never forgot the others who'd also been cast aside by society, and am always on the lookout to ensure that they feel included and help lighten their load.

I have an almost sixth sense in a group conversation and will take note of the one or two people who are being passed over in the talks. Over the years, I've developed an almost seamless way to shift the conversation towards a subject that I think they'll have some expertise in.

I might ask "is there anyone here with training in CPR? (knowing that silent Susan who never speaks up, fits that description). Looking at her with a gentle smile, I give her the space to shine on her own.

What I can't stand are the loudmouths who always have to dominate every conversation and make everything all about themselves. Many a time I've met with these narcissists beforehand to ask for their cooperation in allowing others the space to speak.

I've even gone so far as to say "I'll gently tap your toe with my foot if you're cutting the quiet ones off when they're attempting to contribute. "Let somebody else have the floor, it doesn't have to be all about you."

So my friend here is one of those types. I won't share his name because he works at a large employer in the area, but if ever anyone DESERVED something good, it's him.

Yesterday, I was able to help make that happen.

The Gift

I love giving things away to people that may have a use for them. For a bit, I'd been trying to donate an expensive tech object, but just couldn't find the right person to give it to.

I didn't want to just put it out and have some junkie sell it for $20 in order to get high. Each time I thought I'd found a suitable person, they'd show a nasty side of themselves that made me reconsider.

It's almost as if the Universe was gently guiding me in the direction that I ended up going.

After the latest failure to offload this item, I saw the quiet guy who was on the periphery of my social circle, having a smoke break outside.

I recalled that he was ALWAYS kind to everyone, and wondered if I should give it to him. Part of the reason he never came to mind was that he was so quiet and unassuming. He was always working, so the only interactions we had was usually greetings on his way to/from work.

So I stopped to chat for a bit, and took notice of how unfailingly polite he was to both me and everyone around him. Here's a guy whose name NEVER came up in any sort of drama. He always kept to himself, and that invisibility was the reason I'd never considered him.

Well, he's invisible no more.

The Giving

Yesterday I offered the item to him, free of charge and with absolutely no strings attached. like me, he's the type used to giving rather than receiving. I knew he could use it at his job, and had my excuses well-prepared if he tried to pay me for it (which he did). :)

Again and again he tried to offer me money for it, but I was like "nah man, I looked at the reviews online, and a handful of them reported issues with the device, and I wouldn't want you to pay for something that might have a problem."

Yet he persisted. :)

So to get this thing wrapped up, I "compromised" and told him "hold on to your money, and if it's still working 90 days from now, you can give me something for it."

Now if you know anything at all about me, you know I'll ensure that that day never arrives. I placed the date seemingly near, but far enough in the future that he'll be so involved in work that he'll forget about it.

No way am I taking money from a good person like that. And if he by chance remembers and tries to pay me in 3 months, I'll simply say "you already paid me months ago, remember?"

Slick. :)

When he accepted it, he told me that good things never happen to him and that he's almost never offered anything by anybody. "Oh I know" I responded, having been in the same boat myself.

It's not that I'm trying to do good, it's just who I am.

But it warmed my heart to see this older man beam with joy when I gave it to him. He said he'd be up tinkering with it, and that he couldn't stop looking at it, and would likely be doing so all night.

It was so nice to see a good guy finally finishing first for a change, and I knew that that tech item which he could never afford on his own, had finally found its rightful owner. So if you ever get the chance, try to do something nice for the 'invisible people' in your life. I promise you, your heart will thank you for it.