Epilogue

During the eleven months we traveled the country, we were overwhelmed by the unfailing goodness of people we met, and the hearts full of goodwill that we found everywhere. We now have an answer to the question posed in that Barron’s cartoon—and it is, yes, there is good news every day—if you are looking for it. Because of the people we met, we know that there will be good news tomorrow, and the next day, and for years to come.

How do we know? We know because our unscientific and random search yielded such an abundance of goodwill, we feel highly confident that there exists a vast—-even overflowing—-reservoir of goodwill all across the land. But remember, it must be sought, and sought diligently.

Along our way, we also learned another important lesson from the people we met. They responded with great enthusiasm and seriousness when given an opportunity to spread some goodwill. As you read, we gave each interviewee ten dollars and asked them to use it for something good. We also asked them to send us a note telling us how they used the money. We heard from some people right away. Others responded much later. Even today, we are still receiving letters from our goodwill ambassadors. (Because of space limitations, the portions of letters that appear in this book represent only some of the responses we received.) It has been a thrill to see how often the initial small gift has been multiplied, and how broadly the goodwill has rippled out.

One result that neither of us foresaw was that our quest for goodwill would change other lives. But people have told us that it did.

We heard from a young man, who wrote:

I want you both to know that being interviewed by you and listening to some of your stories of travel was very neat and inspirational. . . . After meeting you both, I really sat back and looked at my life, mainly to see if I display goodwill each day. I found myself shocked. I felt like I was not doing enough for those around me. . . . The honest truth is that Iam a former drug and alcohol addict, and though I have successfully cleaned up my life with the help (and goodwill) of friends, family, and specialists, I felt like I needed to do more, as others have done for me. My entire life I have kept a fake smile because I was told to. I never knew why, though. Today I understand. A smile is a pure, simple form of goodwill, which everyone should be exposed to. I’ve learned that goodwill is everywhere, really. It doesn’t necessarily take lots of effort, time, or even money. It only takes a good spirit from within and passing it on to others in any form possible. . . . I kind of
think of it as another step in my recovery. I have since gotten in touch with my recovery therapist and I (when work allows)
try to sit in on group meetings as a peer mediator, sharing my story with others. . . . I think I’ve helped some folks.

But because of you two inspiring my thoughts and my life, I have helped myself. I have moved into a cheaper apartment in order to save money for my future, something I never thought mattered before. I have enhanced my relationship with my girlfriend. And probably most important, I have improved my family’s faith and trust in me. I have started to see the glass half full, instead of half empty. . . . I have been promoted to [supervisor] after I expressed to my boss that I want to take the next step in a career path. . . . I like to call it the goodwill industry, because I get to spread so much of it to all kinds of people. . . . I am happier now than I have been in a long while. It may sound a little “cheesy” but I do credit you two a lot. Taking the time to share your story with me was an encouragement. I guess that is why I’m trying to do the same for others when possible. . . . Thank you very much for spreading goodwill. . . . God bless you both.

Another goodwill correspondent who requested anonymity was inspired to reach out to tornado victims in
his area. He and his wife headed south in their pickup packed with a camera, shovel, rope, an emergency kit, two coolers filled with water and soda, and a couple of boxes of doughnuts.

We came to the first demolished home . . . where we walked up and introduced ourselves and asked how we could help. . . . We worked at moving walls off of their belongings, and helped them salvage books, toys, pictures, silverware, and anything else of value to them. Many volunteers came to help, and the doughnuts and beverages were greatly appreciated by all.
Several times, the homeowners got teary-eyed from the outpouring of help they were receiving from complete
strangers. When things slowed down there, we moved on to another demolished house, where we asked the man if we could help . . . he needed to bury the family’s husky before his wife and kids arrived. We buried the dog, then moved on to another home. . . .

My wife and I worked a long and hard, yet meaningful day, and were exhausted by the time we headed home. We were passively reflecting over the day when my wife said, “Hey, is this a good enough cause to count that ten dollars toward?”

I hope this shows there is still good in the heartland, in America, and the world.

We believe it does.
The spread of goodwill extended well beyond those we interviewed. Remember that Jim Seay in Florida took the $10 we gave him and multiplied it by sending $10 to thirteen friends, $10 to Pat, and $10 to Scott, along with instructions to use it for good (p. 215). Here’s what happened to one of the thirteen.

Your letter created a great deal of wheel-turning in my head. I wanted to do something extraordinary with the $10, so I thought and thought and then I over-thought and got nowhere. Finally, when KPMG decided to send me to India on a job assignment, what I was going to do with the $10 was simple. I was going to use it to buy gifts for some children at an orphanage. I would add to the $10 myself. Seemed like a no-brainer. I shared this entire story with various colleagues at KPMG and they, too, wished to contribute to the “India Fund.” Soon the $10 grew to $130 and I found myself removing various articles from my luggage to accommodate all the gifts I was taking for the children. If the story ended here, I would have felt adequate, but what happened next has forever changed my husband and me. I took the gifts to the children at an orphanage in Kengeri (outskirts of Bangalore), India. . . . My goal was to take the gifts to them and share some of my time with them. Seemed simple enough. I was definitely wrong about that.

The children were thrilled to get these fancy gifts from the U.S. and they treated me like I was royalty. I shook hands
with 250 children and many of them gave me big hugs. I felt like the most fortunate person to be allowed to be part of their Saturday. The children made me promise that I would come back and visit them again. I kept my promise to them and visited with them a total of six times over the remaining two months I was there. At the end of my assignment, when my husband, John, came to India, we both went to the orphanage together. . . . During all my visits, I spoke to the director and gathered information to see how we [John and I] could continue to help. . . .

It has taken us six months and dealing with two different banks to establish an account in India. . . . At a minimum, John and I have promised to fund the third meal in the day. You see, when funds are low, the children get only two meals a day. We want to make sure the children get the third meal. Additionally, we have promised to fund the salary of a teacher. . . .

It has taken us a long time to use the $10 to its maximum, but it’s been worth every moment. I kept the original ten-dollar bill that you sent to me to be my source of motivation when things didn’t go as planned.

I want to thank you for sending me the $10. It’s been a great experience for us.

We have been encouraged and inspired by these letters, and know that others will be, too.

We would love to know about the good things in your community and in your life. Just imagine that Pat is asking you each of his questions. Please take some time to think about your answers—they are worthy of your serious reflection.

  1. Is there a place in your state which you especially enjoy? What is your favorite place, and why?
  2. What is the best thing about your town or state?
  3. Of all the people you know, is there one who “stands out” for consistently doing good things? Who is the best person you know?
  4. Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet, or meet again?
  5. What is the best decision you have made?
  6. Do you have a goal you still hope to achieve?
  7. What is the best thing that has happened in your life?
  8. If you had an opportunity to begin a new career, what would you choose to do?
  9. Do you have a message of encouragement or words of advice for our readers all across the land?

Feel free to share your story one of the following ways:

  1. Go to Share Your Story on our website
  2. Email your story to story@lookingforgoodwill.com
  3. Send it to us in the mail at:
    Pat and Scott Price
    1032 Tyne Boulevard
    Nashville, TN 37220

    Be sure to include a photograph. If we receive enough responses, we will try to compile another book!