I don’t know who is going to read this, but I wanted to tell you a story about someone I met last night.
Last night, at midnight, I was walking through a very busy underground station, to get a cab as my train had just been canceled.
I had just been on a great night out with my dearest friends. We had drunk chocolate martinis, eaten Korean food ended up in a very expensive bar drinking our final lychee martinis, before heading off home.
It was on my way to the taxi rank with a friend, when a man came up to us and asked us for change. I said, “sorry I don’t have any,” without even thinking or even looking at him.
As we carried on talking, I realized I had just lied. I did have change. And lots of it. So I found a couple of pounds and went back to the man and handed him my change.
The shocking part was what he said to us. I would never have seen this statement coming.
“I have been standing here for 3 hours. All I need is £5, so that I can get a bed for the night. You are the first person who has even looked at me. Thank you, for not ignoring me. It says alot about your character.”
My friend and I walked away, and went towards our cab. We were about 10 feet away when we looked at each other and realized, that if £5 was all that he needed, we could give it to him.
We went back and handed him a £5 note. The saddest part of this all was how surprised he looked when we gave him that money. I did tell him to go and get a bed for the night, but to be honest, I don’t care what he spent it on, as long as it made him happy.
There is no moral to my story. I am not here to preach to people, and to tell you all to donate to charities. I think we are all aware of what is going on in this world and we all do try and help in our own way. I guess what I am actually trying to say is listen to people when they speak to you. When I listened to this man, he inspired me to give him what he asked for, because I realized that in a very small way, I could help him.
I am not by any means exceedingly rich. I don’t have a special character. And I didn’t give him the money so that I could feel better about myself. I am a normal girl, who leads a normal life. But my realization was, that If I can afford a night of martinis and dinner and a cab, I can afford to give away £5. I can just drink one less martini.
Here is a link to Shelter, who helps homeless people. If any of you would like to donate. No pressure. Just listen to someone the next time they speak to you.
http://england.shelter.org.uk/
Tags: homelessness, Shelter
