A well-known person was being interviewed at an event. During the interview, he was asked if there was anyone who ever made him feel like he wasn’t able to give back as much as they had given to him.
He thought for a moment and said, “Yes, there was one person—a paperboy.”
He explained that when he was young and struggling, there was a paperboy who delivered newspapers near his house. The man didn’t always have enough money to pay for the newspaper at the time, but the paperboy, seeing his situation, allowed him to take the paper for free. He never asked for anything in return.
Years later, after achieving significant success, he happened to meet the same paperboy. Wanting to repay the kindness, he offered to give the man anything he needed or desired.
The paperboy, now older, smiled and said, “You can’t repay me, because you can’t give me what I gave you. I gave you something when you had nothing, and now you’re offering me something when you have everything.”
This story often serves as a reminder that kindness is most impactful when given selflessly and without expecting anything in return, especially when the recipient has little to offer back at the time.
This story is often thought to be about Bill Gates, but there is no proof I have found that it is true. That’s why I have chosen to remove his name from the story.
