Helping Others...

I had 2 friends leave for Europe today and I offered to take them to Chicago for their flight. As I was leaving the handed me money for gas/tolls and I refused. I'm not going to take money from my friends for something I offered to do for them. Part of being friends help each other out and not needing or expecting a payment (monetar or anything) for it. A "thank you" should be sufficient.

I thought about this driving back from Chicago and it seems there are different types of helping I've been running across recently. I'll help you do XX, but I would like X; I'll help you for $XX; You should hire me to do xx; I'll need some gas money; I pretty booked, but maybe next weekend I'll have a little time; Yea, I did that repair on my house myself, here's someone you can call who won't be that expensive. I haven't really helped you with anything, but can you do XX for me? [note: some are more extreme to show my point and yes I've come across people who help b/c they want to and not to receive something back] Why are we so quick to help people less fortunate, but not often those right around us. Or it's ok to charge people or let them pay for repairs themselves if they can afford it or capitalize on their mis-fortunes? Or not making time to help others when they need something?

It's just interesting how some people look at helping differently. Regardless, I'm going to continue to try my best be genuine and help my friends when possible b/c I want to...