Tuesday, January 12, 2016

I Wish Karma Was Real

A few weeks ago, I was driving along the highway when I caught sight of a large dog walking in the grass by the road.

I stopped my car by the side of the road and approached the dog slowly. Fortunately, it didn't growl at me or try to bite me. Instead, it seemed timid and frightened. I couldn't just leave the dog there, because I knew that the image of it wandering alone by the highway would haunt me forever. It made me think of last year, when I saw an already-injured bird die after it was run over by a car. I screamed when it happened, and then I cried because I didn't save it. I had to make up for that now.

I managed to coax the dog into the backseat of my car. The dog smelled so bad that I had to open my windows, even though it was cold. She (I think it was a girl) was wet and muddy, and a small, selfish part of me lamented over the fact that my brand-new, sparkling clean car seats were now dirty. It seemed like the dog had been outside for days. I stopped by a convenience store and bought a cup of water and a bag of chips for the dog. Judging by the way the dog gobbled down almost all the chips, it seemed like she hadn't eaten for a few days either.

The dog didn't have a collar or any tags, and there were no houses near the place where I found her. It made me think that some evil monster had dumped the dog by the highway.

I wanted to take the dog home with me, but my building doesn't allow dogs. It doesn't seem fair that my neighbors, who scatter cigarette butts and trash all over the parking lot and wake me up at 2 A.M. with their parties, are allowed to live there, but dogs are not.

I took the dog to an animal shelter nearby. They were very nice and assured me that they would take good care of her. I asked if she would be euthanized eventually, but they said they hadn't had to euthanize any of the animals in more than a year (the nearest no-kill shelter was more than an hour away; the dog was getting antsy in my backseat, and I wasn't even sure if they would take her). I was sorry to say good-bye to the dog, but I left hoping and praying that she would find a good home.

The whole situation made me feel sad and angry. I felt sad that I couldn't adopt the dog myself. I felt angry at the scum that abandoned her. I also felt angry at all the drivers that had passed the dog (she was very large, so it would have been impossible to miss her) without stopping.

It made me wish that karma was real and that eventually whoever left that beautiful dog by the side of the road would get what he or she deserved. But sometimes I wonder if karma is real. Not long after I helped that dog, I came down with the flu, which meant I spent almost half of my Christmas vacation in bed. I had all these plans for my time off, too. (That's also partly why I haven't blogged in a month.)

It made me think of how I tried to help people before. Once I helped push an old man in his wheelchair across the street, but then he got mad at me because I wouldn't stay and "socialize" with him. I used to bring doughnuts to a homeless person, until he got mad and demanded that I bring him sandwiches instead. I offered to help an old woman struggling to go down the stairs with her cane, but she screamed at me and threatened to hit me with the cane.

I don't wish bad things on any of those people, but situations like those make me wonder if being a good person is worth it. It's not like I hope to get something out of helping people (although a "thank you" would be nice once in a while), but sometimes it seems like good things only happen to the most selfish and inconsiderate people in the world (like one person who shall remain nameless, but whose name rhymes with "chump".)

What about you? Do you think karma is real? Did your attempt to help someone else ever backfire?

13 comments:

  1. I hope you can appreciate your accomplishments. As far as Karma, I think it comes from the inside. I took this MOOC and it reminded me what is important for my Karma. https://www.coursera.org/learn/happiness

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Enjoy Your Site,
      I try to appreciate my accomplishments, but my neurotic nature often makes me focus on the negative aspects instead, unfortunately. I guess that's something I should work on. :)

      Delete
  2. I'm an atheist so I don't believe in karma, and the word karma has been misused in the West anyway. I'm not usually one to help people - living in a car-oriented city means I hardly ever see people in need of help anyway. However, I do stop for dogs. They are my soft-spot and I'll help a dog before I help a human - for the exact reasons you mentioned. People are generally ungrateful anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi nomdeplume,
      I have a soft spot for dogs too; I've loved them ever since I was a kid and had my own dog, who died of old age. I just don't understand how anyone could hurt a dog or any animal, really.

      Delete
  3. I think it's wonderful that you stopped and helped that dog, since obviously most people wouldn't do such a thing.
    I don't think I believe in karma. I just don't think I've seen any proof that it exists, really.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sarah,
      I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I hadn't stopped. At least now the dog is out of the cold and will be given a warm place to sleep and enough food to eat. It's hard for me to believe in karma too; sometimes it seems like the best things happen to the people who deserve it the least.

      Delete
  4. I prefer the line of anonymously helping people. Then it can't backfire. ;) Regardless of whether you feel like your attempts to help were failed, I promise they weren't. When we tally up all the kindnesses dealt in this life, they will be a source of happiness and peace, not just for you, but for those you attempted to serve as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Crystal,
      I think anonymous help is good too, because then the focus is on the people being helped rather than the person doing the helping. I guess I was just feeling discouraged because lately it seems like I've been on a bad-luck streak, so I could use some good karma right about now.

      Delete
  5. I deep breathed on this one! Mainly at the end. It seems people are becoming less humbled by generosity and take what is offered as a kind act as "not enough" or nit pick it. I have offered some sorta help when I thought it would make someone feel just a bit less stressed with their load for the day. It backfired a tad to a "I'm not incapable" stance, said ever so nicely. But I'm not dense. And I know what the underlining of all that is. But, regardless, there WILL be those gracious enough to allow us to serve them in some way that we feel we can. Although that person wouldn't take me up on my offer, another did at another time. And people have to remember that we serve and help or offer it not because we have to, but because we genuinely want to. And also, we know the feeling of a heavy load, plus what it feels like to have a little help. And like you, it will always in the back of my mind, bother me that that the one person couldn't put their pride aside just enough to let me help them. Just because...I really wanted to help. Then you have that karma moment where your like well...I hope you trip and fall and skin your knees!! Haha! Kidding.
    Keeping at it girl! And so should you!! And great service to the dog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tammy,
      Thanks! I've always loved dogs; I've decided to donate some money and pet supplies to that animal shelter that took the dog.
      I think we all wish karma was real at some point; either that or it'd be nice if life was like the movies where we could come up with some elaborate revenge plot against people who are mean.
      There have been other people who responded with graciousness and gratitude. When I lived in Chicago, I sometimes bought Starbucks gift cards and put a few dollars on them, which I would then give to homeless people who came to the cafes. Some (though not all) of the baristas always made a big show of kicking out the homeless people, but I made sure that the baristas knew that I was giving those people the cards so that they'd be allowed to stay and buy something. The homeless people were always grateful, and it made me feel good to help them.

      Delete
  6. Oh, yes. Karma is real, and it's coming for us all. The good and the bad.
    My parents picked up a stray, but they were able to save her and keep her. She's a lovely dog and was in such poor shape she had burrs in her mouth and under each of her legs so they had to shave her bald. She was fully house-trained, loved kids, and very obedient. Someone trained this sweet little dog, and then somehow she either got away from them and lived on her own for quite a long time (according to the vet) or they turned her out. Fortunately, my parents picked her up and she has a lovely home and people who adore her. I hope the stray you helped finds the same!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Emily,
      Bless your parents for adopting that stray; I'm sure she loved them forever for that. That's the thing about dogs: they're needy, but they're very affectionate and always happy to see you. That's why it always makes me sad when people mistreat them or any animals for that matter. I hope that that dog I picked up does find a good home, with people who will never hurt her or abandon her.

      Delete
  7. Oh, yes. Karma is real, and it's coming for us all. The good and the bad.
    My parents picked up a stray, but they were able to save her and keep her. She's a lovely dog and was in such poor shape she had burrs in her mouth and under each of her legs so they had to shave her bald. She was fully house-trained, loved kids, and very obedient. Someone trained this sweet little dog, and then somehow she either got away from them and lived on her own for quite a long time (according to the vet) or they turned her out. Fortunately, my parents picked her up and she has a lovely home and people who adore her. I hope the stray you helped finds the same!

    ReplyDelete