Helping People; Not Always in Your Best Interest

I used to believe in helping everyone I could. I enjoyed the feeling I got when I reversed a stranger's bad day and turned it into something good. I've learned better since then. Don't get me wrong; I still agree with and practice the concept, but I'm much more adept at it now that I have gained experience. Even though I was the rescuer, it seemed like I always had to pay a personal price for being kind to people. After suffering much heartache, embarrassing episodes,
and personal loss, I've learned that giving help to my fellow human beings can be a risky endeavor if not approached correctly.
Long ago, when I was still green behind the ears, I enjoyed spending most of my evenings out on the town. I was eighteen, naïve, and ready to take on the world. One particular night, after spending my usual hour bathing and fixing myself up, I was eager to go bar hopping.
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