Every now and then, we all find ourselves contemplating the cruelty of the current world. Personally, working in the restaurant business, those days happen all to often. Alas, this isn't an article about how truly taxing the customer service field can be. I'll save that for another day. This is a story about Gary. I don't know Gary and I'll probably never see him again but Gary is seriously awesome.

My day had been a stressful one in many ways and I decided to have my bff pick me up to attempt to end the day on a good note. Isn't it funny how plans like these never work out? As we made our way home her (brand new) car decided to die, during the dawning of a winter storm. We find ourselves in the middle of a slow road just past midnight and stranded. So here I am a five-foot-nothing girl behind the car pushing with everything I've got.

As we move at a whopping speed of 0.5 miles per hour, my hands start to freeze and things are looking grim. I'll admit that some expletives were exchanged between myself and the car. Then a truck pulls up behind us and outruns my new best friend; Gary. Like an angel walking from the glow of heaven I see him coming towards the car and offering his help.

Thanks to him we spent just five minutes pushing the car to the nearest parking lot, instead of the five hours it would have taken myself alone. He even brought us down the road about two miles to my friend's house.

Now at this point, everyone who has heard this story-- my mother-- gasps in shock. How dare two girls get in a truck with a strange man? Don't worry I had my reservations and checked myself, we aren't as ignorant as it seems. With no other options (we already called everyone with four-wheel drive) we took the ride.

This was not a decision against my better judgement. Sometimes you just know that someone is a good person. He had a plow on his truck and a box of donuts on his dash. He made polite conversation and went out of his way to push a heavy car basically by himself, I can't give myself much credit.

He could have driven by like the six other trucks had; I'll admit some expletives were exchanged with each of them unknowingly as well. This wasn't the only helpful human in the face of disaster. Along with Gary, there was my friend Cody, the engineer, who came out of his way the next day to help diagnose the problem and put my friends family at ease. I mean, the car was a week old the day is broke down- upsetting for anyone.

So, you've heard my story, but here's my point: The world has a stigma for being a dog eat dog world, and this stigma has to be changed. Everywhere you go you can expect to hear people complaining. If you listen to most conversations someone will complain at least once.

Mindset is the key. When I thanked Gary all he said was, "It's no problem, I just hope if I'm stranded in the snow one day someone will come help me." There it is. You get what you give out in the world, and you can't expect much else. Instances like these have always hit home with me, and I like to think I'd help people as often as I can.

Not only is it a good prospect, but when you actually get the opportunity to help someone without expecting any reward, it is a great feeling. This article is an argument for a better outlook on life. I know how to be cynical better than anyone, but try to reserve it only for yourself. The general public doesn't deserve your punishment for the fact that you got a five dollar tip on a hundred dollar check! Although, if that's happened to you recently, I am so sorry.

So pay it forward, and do your part to put an end to the extremely negative mindset that's all too prevelant in the world around us.