While living at home, almost every day after school I helped my younger sister, Sara, with her homework after school. I understood that Sara needed my help because I knew her grades were less than average and because she often required my help. I sacrificed my time and energy through this direct action in hopes of benefiting her with an increase in her grades, which it did. This sacrifice was encouraged by the gratitude of my parents and sister, which led to me having to do fewer household chores. The indirect help I provided was to my father, who, because he no longer had to help Sara with her homework, had more time to rest after work and became happier overall. Sara was also helped indirectly by my teachers, who encouraged me to do well in school and gave me the resources to help her in the first place. This example, although simple and everyday, exemplifies the characteristics of helping and shows the dynamics between helper and helped