About Me

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I am twenty-four years old, I love to read, write, sing, listen to music, watch theater, open presents, hike, and climb. The number one thing I dislike is lazy people. My goal in life over job, or money, or travel, is to overcome the struggles of the past, and become a whole, happy woman.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Should You give money to the homeless?

I'm a recent citizen of the "big city" (nothing is truly big in Oklahoma), and moving from a small town to a big city, I'm new to the world of the U.S homeless. I don't know what is accurate, about the homeless as I hear so many things. I pulled up to a stop light this morning and there was a dirty man in his forties holding a sign saying he and his family needed help, and my heart sank. As I pulled away and saw him in the rear view mirror I remembered the four one's I had in my purse. I thought "what if he truly did have a family that needed my help. Kids? A wife counting on him? How often do the homeless lie about there status? Should I feel guilty about my life? I just don't know. I'm assuming I'll feel guilty either way, but what are your views or experiences.

5 comments:

  1. Left a town of 300 or so, depends on who was counting that week, for the city of 4 million or so, depending on who was counting that decade. Homeless in a town of 300 consisted of a loveable guy we knew by first name, and around which, great myths and childhood legends grew. Being in HealthCare and the big city for more years than I care to admit, I interact with the homeless more than i can sometime handle. I say "Handle" because given a chance, each has a story, its the one constant. I have since decided that my gut has way of twisting at me, though I know I will see 20 or 30 homeless today. My gut/fate will guide me as I am just not rich enough to help the 20 or 30 I will see today. The fact you feel guilty speaks volumes about you as a person for I know many who wouldn't give it a second. Passion, YOUR passion, is what prompts me to return every week or so see words have aligned for your world of readers. Simply put, your a smart woman, I know you'll know just what to do after a brief view of your heart.

    I should add I spent 3 weeks homeless in Denver. Not really long enough to count but long enough to impact me. It was cold, I was very hungry and I was to proud to phone home for help. I was trying to gather the money to get the bus back to the ranch where I worked at the time. Trailways offered "80 bucks to any where in the US" at the time. Eighty was hard to come by at the time. While sitting in the bus station for my third week in a row. I shared my Spam, Crackers and a Louis L'Amour dimeback with a lady that I thought had less than me. I later found out she paid the difference in what was left of my bus ticket befor boarding her bus to Michigan. I quit my job washing dishes and scooted back to Texas. We became pen pals and I was honored to go to Michigan to carry her coffin about 10 years later. She obviously needed nothing from me. I gained a friend, who encouraged me to finish school, a "mom" I could talk to via snail mail and most of all, perspective. Trust your heart.

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  2. Beautiful story! And eighty dollars is a large amount no matter the era. I think I don't just feel guilty as I know what humility feels like, and for them to stand there asking for help, that must mean that most need it right? I refuse to ask help from my family or friends too, they taught me to be hard, and I feel like it would be too much satisfaction on their part. I wish I knew more stories about you, because that one was beautiful, and in a sea of day to day cold faces, it's nice to hear stories from a hard worker and good soul:)
    Thank you.

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  3. I doubt you will ever know just how much you made my day. Thank you! You can know anything and everything about me that you wish. You have this scary way of making me want to talk... well, to you at least.

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  4. Ok, now that the smitten fairies have cleared. ;-) I should begin by apologizing for my lack of skill in typing and proofreading. See why I dont post often? Your right about the $80 dollars especially when you start to put it in perspective and point of view. Thanks for reading and commenting on the story,I don't guess I have ever stopped and thought about it being a beautiful story. I was more hung up on appreciation and luck, but now you have verbalized it, I have to agree with you and now my opinion seems more appropriate than ever because I truly am thankful to have been so lucky to have met her and have a beautiful story.



    As for feeling humility, I would also agree that if one is willing to stand and beg all day that no matter what the actual situation is, they truly feel they are in need.



    I'm sorry to hear that you feel your family taught you to be hard. If I were to judge the book by the cover, that is NOT the assessment I would conclude of you. Your insight and beauty point in an opposite direction.



    I have learned over the years the greatest satisfaction I can achieve is in providing for and helping those that need but never ask. Its a strange dance, no?

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  5. No, I think I come off as hard or a ditz if you don't know me very well(very opposite I know). But I am most honest here, no one to answer to or pretend for, so I come across as weak and vulnerable. This is why I appreciate you. You have seen the real me and continue to be encouraging. I can't tell you how much that means. And as for faults in your writing, I have never seen one:)

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