Nice Story

Homeless, not Hopeless
Submitted By: Danny Garcia
Date Submitted: 6/26/2007

I tell this story to a lot of people, mainly because it was the catalyst of my change into a life of kindness.
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So a few years ago, when I was like 13 or 14, I decided to go jogging during a rainy summer day. It was always my favorite activity because the streets were so peaceful when it rained, and in the summer it wasn't very cold at all. So I'm running, and I see this grown man with sweat clothes on that are clearly a few sizes too small, no umbrella, and he's picking cans out of a bush. And as he finds on, he smiles and puts it in his shopping cart. And I run past him thinking "How sad. I wish there were someway to help him." and I begin to have that argument we all have in ourselves. Where are thoughts aren't in sync with our body. "Wait; I could give him my umbrella." - "But I need my umbrella" - "No I don't; I have a hoodie under it. I won't get wet at all." - "But mom would kill me." - "It's just an umbrella. I'll take the fall." - "But what're you gonna say?" - "It's gonna be embarrassing turning around to run back and give him an umbrella." - "What if he's a nut?" - "What if he doesn't speak English?"

And as I'm thinking all these conflicting thoughts, I'm still running. Farther and farther from him. So I ultimately decide that all of his suffering doesn't equal to the little suffering I'll have without a silly umbrella. So I run back, and give him the umbrella with this really embarrassed face (I was never the social kind of kid) and say "You need this more than I do." and to my surprise, he took it with this giant smile on his face saying "Really?" and I'm like "Y-Yeah. Take it." and he takes it repeating "Thank you! Thank you!! God bless you" over and over. And I walked away feeling good. I turn around one last minute and see him smiling a lot more than he previously was, even though he's still back to picking cans from bushes. "It was just an umbrella." I thought, not realizing that it was the kindness that made him happy, and not the material possession. It was that feeling that he wasn't alone in the world.

A few weeks later I'm running on a bright sunny day, and pass by the same man sitting down resting, with the same exact clothes, and the same exact shopping cart full of cans. The only difference was my umbrella right in the corner, looking like he cherished it. It was so clean and neatly placed, contrasting against the rusted shopping cart and cans.

It didn't matter that I couldn't give the guy a house and a job; I only did what little I was able to; and it made a whole lot of suffering seem to go away. And that's really all it takes to heal this messed up world; is to get rid of our pride and give up our own happiness just to make someone else even a tiny bit happier.

[lil_addict]

Hey sweetie, you got me balling over here lol... that's such a sweet story.  I hope you are having a good time at the Cape with your family.  I'm doing great.  Day 18 today woohooo... and you have to be on at least day 7.  You are doing so good. I'm so proud of you sweetie.  

Luvs you and big hugz,

Lil.  :)

[TimH2]

Happy day 18!!!! You are doing so great and I am proud of you. I remember how hard you struggled to get off the pills. You have a tough job having to hand out meds, lol. It must be hard to do that. Keep the faith and keep fighting for recovery!!!!

I hope those were happy tears :) The story touched my heart too!

((((((((((((((lil))))))))))))))))))

Love to ya,
Tim

[Daisy Cr]

thank you for the lovely story...it warmed my heart, too...and i needed it a lot, as this is only my second day.
lots of love!

[TimH2]

I know how rough today is. I answered your post. Please read and let me now how I can help you.

Hug to ya,
Tim

[emilyanne]

What a great story! When I was younger, maybe about 12 or so, I remember going through the bank drive through with my dad and brother. My brother and I spotted a homeless guy nearby, lying down and talking to himself. Nick and I asked my dad to go give him money, so after the drive through, we pulled into a parking space. My dad made us wait in the car, but we watched out the window. As my dad started to hand him the money and talk to him, he started chucking huge rocks at my dad, lol! My dad still left him the money, but I've never seen him run so fast in my life, lol!! To this day, whenever I see a homeless person I give them money but never forget that day at the bank!

[TimH2]

lol, I love the stories about your Dad. I visited some relatives in Puerto Rico many years ago. My Uncle was in the Airforce. I was 17 and all the kids would go off base to drink, surf and just have a good ole time. I was in a restaurant in Ponce and there was this little old lady dressed all in black. She was begging the patrons of the restaurant and the manager was tossing her out. I got up and went running after her, I gave her a few bucks. The manager was really unhappy with me. He told me "She is nothing but a beggar and comes in everday. You have just made the matter worse." I looked at my friends, got up, and left the restaurant. He was really mean to her when he threw her out. He just about dragged her out and she was at least 80 yrs old. I am happy she didn't throw rocks at me. :)