I met this beautiful lady several months ago, she is a nurse who became very sick, lost her job, lost her health insurance, could not afford her medical bills, lost her home and now she lives on the streets of DC waiting for her terminal cancer to take her to heaven.
I often stop by to talk to her, and every time she sees me she has a grin on her face and a little tear of joy.
This morning, I stopped by for a minute to say hello, and saw that she had put some red lipstick and pink blush.
I said to her, “you look pretty today”
“Sometimes I just want to feel good” she replied with a smile… and my heart smiled as well.
So, I ask myself:
What is wrong with the system?
How did we become so immune to people’s misery?
I am not a policy maker, so I don’t have an answer but I do know that health and education should be a right for every citizen. We should all be persistent on putting pressure on our elected leaders to learn to work together and find a solution. I know that it is going to take a while to improve the system, yet we must stay optimistic and vigilant.
Although I may not have the answers, I know that small gestures can make a big difference in peoples lives.
As a young entrepreneur, my first business venture folded as my life did as well. I did not have any money to pay for school, rent or food. I was evicted, left alone in the street, hungry, without a single penny in my pocket.
What kept me going? My pride.
My Pride, would not allow me to accept defeat or a call for help, even though many times I was ready to give up.
I was completely broke but I never lost hope. I kept my posture and my smile. I would speak in a loud confident voice and always dressed in clean and ironed clothing. I would talk about my ideas and did not show defeat. Slowly I got back on my feet and began building my business.
Most of the people who were never in that situation, see themselves as better people; they look down at homeless not understanding that it is so easy to follow that path and that the majority of the street-people are just looking for a crack in the door, an opportunity to begin again!
They are looking for a smile, a straight-look in the eye that conveys support, “you can do it!” They are human beings fighting to keep their own dignity.
We all should make a conscious effort to acknowledge them, to talk to them, to ask them questions and to learn their story. It is lonesome to be homeless, and just taking a few seconds to smile or to ask how someone's day is going, can make a big difference in his/her day.
Rememeber: sometimes we all just want to feel good!
I often stop by to talk to her, and every time she sees me she has a grin on her face and a little tear of joy.
This morning, I stopped by for a minute to say hello, and saw that she had put some red lipstick and pink blush.
I said to her, “you look pretty today”
“Sometimes I just want to feel good” she replied with a smile… and my heart smiled as well.
So, I ask myself:
What is wrong with the system?
How did we become so immune to people’s misery?
I am not a policy maker, so I don’t have an answer but I do know that health and education should be a right for every citizen. We should all be persistent on putting pressure on our elected leaders to learn to work together and find a solution. I know that it is going to take a while to improve the system, yet we must stay optimistic and vigilant.
Although I may not have the answers, I know that small gestures can make a big difference in peoples lives.
As a young entrepreneur, my first business venture folded as my life did as well. I did not have any money to pay for school, rent or food. I was evicted, left alone in the street, hungry, without a single penny in my pocket.
What kept me going? My pride.
My Pride, would not allow me to accept defeat or a call for help, even though many times I was ready to give up.
I was completely broke but I never lost hope. I kept my posture and my smile. I would speak in a loud confident voice and always dressed in clean and ironed clothing. I would talk about my ideas and did not show defeat. Slowly I got back on my feet and began building my business.
Most of the people who were never in that situation, see themselves as better people; they look down at homeless not understanding that it is so easy to follow that path and that the majority of the street-people are just looking for a crack in the door, an opportunity to begin again!
They are looking for a smile, a straight-look in the eye that conveys support, “you can do it!” They are human beings fighting to keep their own dignity.
We all should make a conscious effort to acknowledge them, to talk to them, to ask them questions and to learn their story. It is lonesome to be homeless, and just taking a few seconds to smile or to ask how someone's day is going, can make a big difference in his/her day.
Rememeber: sometimes we all just want to feel good!
