I did something today that made me sad....

Quickie · #1 06-22-2011, 02:18 PM

I live in an apartment complex that has a large shopping center close by. I usually walk over to get some coffee a couple times a week. There is always a homeless guy on the bench, listening to his portable radio warming himself to the sun. Today, I bought a pastry and when I walked by to go home, I handed it to him.

He looked up at me and said, "Is that for me"? He was truly surprised. I handed it to him and he thanked me.....as I was walking home, a sorrow swept across me for a moment. This guy was surprised that someone would stop and give him a pastry.

Kawai-chang · #2 06-22-2011, 02:27 PM

This is an enlightening post.

**WackoStu** · #3 06-22-2011, 02:53 PM

There should be no sorrow with this. Karma my friend. You might have done more today then you know.

**dmonroe** · #4 06-22-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WackoStu

There should be no sorrow with this. Karma my friend. You might have done more today then you know.

Well said Stu, I'm in complete agreement with you. Kudos to you Quickie that was a very good thing you did. Sometimes in life its the smallest gestures we make that can mean the world to someone else.

MatticusMania · #5 06-22-2011, 03:52 PM

Thats awesome of you! I understand why it made you feel bad, in that too often people are willing to write homeless people off. Maybe he was surprised more by the fact that he wasnt asking for handouts from anyone (maybe he was, but you didnt state so). Seems he truly appreciated the gesture as well.

I have a couple homeless friends myself, who had homes at one point, and now often crash at squat spots. Im always willing to let them crash on the couch, use our shower, share some drinks, and whatnot.

RBetoGT · #6 06-22-2011, 04:00 PM

well, actually I think that you should fell good, you did good! and remember, what goes around comes around

bassteban · #7 06-22-2011, 04:15 PM

Tell the truth- you were sad because you wanted the pastry back.

KIDDING- you're nice; Ima stub my toe later today.

**jmattbassplaya** · #8 06-22-2011, 04:22 PM

I came into this thread expecting you to tell us that you had killed a hooker. Not gonna lie, I'm a little disappointed

MatticusMania · #9 06-22-2011, 04:24 PM

I grew up with a sensitive view on the homeless, being that my father's brother was so from as far as I can remember until he passed away when I was 13. Now, dont go feeling sorry or anything, he made his choice, and it was inability to stay off of drugs that rendered him homeless in the first place. His wife kicked him out and he lost the chance to be a father to his daughter. Not too long ago she got in contact with my sister, thanks to facebook, and was happy to get a chance to see some of her estranged family.

But my Dad, he'd always give a beggar a buck, and it kind of passed down to me. I cant walk by a guy asking for change without looking in my pocket. Im always willing to give a dollar, even my last dollar, to a guy who could use it more than me. I dont care if he's going to buy booze or drugs with it, whatever makes himm (or her) happy. Its just spreading positivity. Last christmas I was eating at In-N-Out on my lunch break and saw a guy in the parking lot asking people for change. He passed right by me, and let me eat my food in peace. When I finished, I caught up with him and gave him the $4 I got back from the register and he went inside to buy some food.

fo shizzle · #10 06-22-2011, 04:32 PM

I understand your reaction. It's not that you're reacting to your action, it's that your action was needed in the first place. I've felt the same way.

Of course, after reading the "insurance" thread, I'm sure there's a segment of "gen pop" here in OT that wonders why the guy doesn't get a job so he can buy his own pastry.

MatticusMania · #11 06-22-2011, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fo shizzle

Of course, after reading the "insurance" thread, I'm sure there's a segment of "gen pop" here in OT that wonders why the guy doesn't get a job so he can buy his own pastry.

Seriously.

"Get a job grouch" ~Dave Chapelle

kesslari · #12 06-22-2011, 04:49 PM

Right (at least on the first count) fo shizzle.

What you did was clearly good, and felt good.
Realizing the magnitude of the problem, and getting a deeper sense of empathy with someone who's life is hard and who is a "non-person" to many of those around him - that definitely feels sad (if you don't just blow by the emotion).
Good of you to do it, and to feel it.

MJ5150 · #13 06-22-2011, 04:51 PM

Do it again tomorrow, except when he asks "Is that for me?", say NOPE and eat it in front of him. Then run for your life so he doesn't stab you with his Linkin Park pen.

-Mike

DigMe · #14 06-22-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Do it again tomorrow, except when he asks "Is that for me?", say NOPE and eat it in front of him. Then run for your life so he doesn't stab you with his Linkin Park pen.

-Mike

So you're saying that Mike Money is homeless? Not too surprising I guess.

bc

MJ5150 · #15 06-22-2011, 04:59 PM

Nice catch DigMe! That didn't take long at all.

-Mike

kuys · #16 06-22-2011, 05:09 PM

Nothing wrong with good karma and frankly it's good you felt sad at his position. To me as an outside observer it means you have a proper working conscious.

I would say though, after a few years of working a dead end job at a gas station in the ghetto of Lexington that there are quite a few panhandlers that will simply do the skit to get free money.

I no longer work at the gas station (long since moved on) but the experience has left me rather desensitized to this type of situation. I never give money anymore but I will always give food.

Jay Ralston · #17 06-22-2011, 05:41 PM

You did a kind act. That was very noble of you and shows your character. Maybe you made that guy feel worth something and brightened his day. Sometimes, that's all we can do in life but it is always good when we do hat sort of thing.

Absentia · #18 06-22-2011, 07:07 PM

You know, he's just going to ferment that pastry in a garbage bag and make wine out of it.

ShredderMaximus · #19 06-22-2011, 07:33 PM

On my 21st birthday I gave away my very first purchased beer (a Bear Republic Hotrod Rye, mmmmmmm) to a homelees dude hanging out downtown on some steps. We were literally bar "crawling" and I picked it up at a liquor store, but figured he'd appreciate it more since I was already getting free drinks left and right. He was pretty stoked and I shook his hand.

Karma wise, I think thats the reason we all got back to my buddies to crash and didn't end up in a drunk tank.

**SamanthaCay** · #20 06-23-2011, 06:17 AM

I love giving to people whenever I can.
As someone who has been homeless to no fault of my own I understand that not everyone that is homeless is there because they choose to be.

Usually it's just a dollar or two, maybe some food I have on me, whatever.
A couple years ago though, I did something that sticks out in my mind to this day.

I was driving around doing some used bass shopping looking for a cheap project bass.
I had a $100 dollars or so extra money to spend and I'd just been at my fourth pawn shop.
So then I was sitting in a gas station parking lot thinking of where to go next.
There was this ragged looking guy talking on the pay phone near by, he was pacing around cussing to himself.
I asked him how he was doing,
he said he was having a really bad day, that he had just been kicked out of his place and had nowhere to go.
I gave him my $100, he looked at the money and then at me with this big ol grin and said “are you serious” I just said “yep it's all your's man”, got in my car and left.

I figured I didn't really need another bass, so why not put it to good use and turn around someone's bad day.
I'm pretty sure it worked.

Samantha.