Mark felt that it was time for him, to take part in his community, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work.
Mark
felt
that
it
was
time
for
him
,
to
take
part
in
his
community
,
so
he
went
to
the
neighborhood
meeting
after
work
.
The area' s city councilwoman was leading a discussion about how the quality of life was decreasing.
The
area
'
s
city
councilwoman
was
leading
a
discussion
about
how
the
quality
of
life
was
decreasing
.
The neighborhood faced many problems.
The
neighborhood
faced
many
problems
.
Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls.
Mark
looked
at
the
charts
taped
to
the
walls
.
There are charts for parking problems, crime, and for problems in vacant buildings.
There
are
charts
for
parking
problems
,
crime
,
and
for
problems
in
vacant
buildings
.
People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilwoman.
People
were
supposed
to
suggest
solutions
to
the
councilwoman
.
It was too much for Mark.
It
was
too
much
for
Mark
.
"The problems are too big," he thought.
``
The
problems
are
too
big
,
''
he
thought
.
He turned to the man next to him and said, "I think this is a waste of my time.
He
turned
to
the
man
next
to
him
and
said
,
``
I
think
this
is
a
waste
of
my
time
.
Nothing I could do would make a difference here."
Nothing
I
could
do
would
make
a
difference
here
.
''
Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop.
Mark
thought
some
more
on
his
way
to
the
bus
stop
.
"People should just take care of themselves," he decided.
``
People
should
just
take
care
of
themselves
,
''
he
decided
.
"That' s enough to do.
``
That
'
s
enough
to
do
.
I can' t take on all the problems of the world."
I
can
'
t
take
on
all
the
problems
of
the
world
.
''
As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby.
As
he
neared
the
bus
stop
,
Mark
saw
a
woman
carrying
a
grocery
bag
and
a
baby
.
She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn't have a free hand.
She
was
trying
to
unlock
her
car
,
but
she
did
n't
have
a
free
hand
.
As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly darted into the street.
As
Mark
got
closer
,
her
other
child
,
a
little
boy
,
suddenly
darted
into
the
street
.
The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and the groceries started to fall out.
The
woman
tried
to
reach
for
him
,
but
as
she
moved
,
her
bag
shifted
and
the
groceries
started
to
fall
out
.
Mark ran to take the boy's arm and led him back to his mother.
Mark
ran
to
take
the
boy
's
arm
and
led
him
back
to
his
mother
.
Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief.
Then
he
picked
up
the
groceries
while
the
woman
smiled
in
relief
.
"Thanks!"
``
Thanks
!
''
she said.
she
said
.
"You've got great timing!"
``
You
've
got
great
timing
!
''
"Just being neighborly," Mark said.
``
Just
being
neighborly
,
''
Mark
said
.
As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus.
As
he
rode
home
,
he
glanced
at
the
walls
of
the
bus
.
On one of them was "Small acts of kindness add up."
On
one
of
them
was
``
Small
acts
of
kindness
add
up
.
''
Mark smiled and thought, "Maybe that's a good place to start."
Mark
smiled
and
thought
,
``
Maybe
that
's
a
good
place
to
start
.
''
Mark felt that it was time for him, to take part in his community, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The area' s city councilwoman was leading a discussion about how the quality of life was decreasing. The neighborhood faced many problems.  Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There are charts for parking problems, crime, and for problems in vacant buildings. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilwoman.  It was too much for Mark. "The problems are too big," he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, "I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here."  Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop. "People should just take care of themselves," he decided. "That' s enough to do. I can' t take on all the problems of the world."  As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn't have a free hand. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly darted into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and the groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy's arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. "Thanks!" she said. "You've got great timing!"  "Just being neighborly," Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was "Small acts of kindness add up." Mark smiled and thought, "Maybe that's a good place to start."