May I Ask a Favor?

Danny, a 22-year-old graduate student, received a large block of frequent flyer miles from a relative.  In fact, it was enough miles to fly around the world.  Rather than got to all the hot spots, Danny took quite a different approach to world travel.  In appreciation for the gift of the miles, he chose to travel the world doing favors for people.  Really, he did.  He posted a note on a web site saying he would be traveling the world and asked people how he could help.

At his last post, I counted 18 different places around the world where he had helped someone.  He did everything from moving a couch up a spiral staircase to helping a man with injuries get to a second-floor apartment.  He had over 300 requests and did the best he could to accommodate them. 

That last and most humbling favor was for Oliver’s Mom.  Oliver has leukemia, and she barely has enough time to take care of him.  She asked Danny for a simple request, “Can you wash my car?”  Yes, he did accommodate the request along with helping others and donating funds from generous people along the way, back to the cause.  Danny is contacting airlines about possible sponsorships to do something similar but on a bigger scale.

A kid in his 20’s makes a conscious decision to help people around the world, and we still have challenges with helping the person next door.  I am still not sure what to do with all of this information other than remind everyone that there is opportunity to change a life next door or 10,000 miles away.  The choice is ours.  Hey, may I ask a favor?