I did something good today 
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She saved my life. The bullet in my thigh nicked the deep femoral artery. I was told I would have bled to death had EMTs not responded when they did. My kids exist because of her. Not to mention, I struggled for years afterwards with panic attacks, distrust and an almost hatred for strangers. I closed myself off from the world and wouldn't let anyone in... Every time I started to harden up, get hateful at the world for the bad things that some people will do to complete strangers just because they can, I was reminded of her, and remembered that there are good things that some people will do for complete strangers just because they can. Even bottom-rung, strung-out lowlifes.
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Plan the work. Work the plan.
Plan the work. Work the plan.
Great story. She gave you back her life; maybe you were a catalyst that turned hers around and that's why you can't find her now. Bless you for reaching out to her kids.
I know that most panhandlers are not needy; my philosophy is, I'd rather they go to hell for scamming me than me go to hell for not helping someone who truly needed it.
Usually I'll give a couple bucks to anyone who says they need it. I did stop doing it for awhile when living in Long Beach after one accosted me as I was getting into my car to leave a dry cleaner's. I told him "not today" because I was in a hurry and he had approached me in a somewhat aggressive manner. He said, "Why not?" as if I owed him something. I stopped giving to panhandlers at that point, until I left California.
But now, the economy is so bad (mine too) that I'm more inclined to think someone asking probably does need the help so I do it again now.
But I can never find one after I do a JIB shop and need to unload those tacos.....
More than once I've bought food for stray dogs, too. They're more grateful than a lot of the humans.
I know that most panhandlers are not needy; my philosophy is, I'd rather they go to hell for scamming me than me go to hell for not helping someone who truly needed it.
Usually I'll give a couple bucks to anyone who says they need it. I did stop doing it for awhile when living in Long Beach after one accosted me as I was getting into my car to leave a dry cleaner's. I told him "not today" because I was in a hurry and he had approached me in a somewhat aggressive manner. He said, "Why not?" as if I owed him something. I stopped giving to panhandlers at that point, until I left California.
But now, the economy is so bad (mine too) that I'm more inclined to think someone asking probably does need the help so I do it again now.
But I can never find one after I do a JIB shop and need to unload those tacos.....
More than once I've bought food for stray dogs, too. They're more grateful than a lot of the humans.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
dspeakes Wrote:
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> ; my
> philosophy is, I'd rather they go to hell for
> scamming me than me go to hell for not helping
> someone who truly needed it.
That's how I feel as well. I mean, I don't exactly believe in hell, but... I believe in being a decent human being.
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> ; my
> philosophy is, I'd rather they go to hell for
> scamming me than me go to hell for not helping
> someone who truly needed it.
That's how I feel as well. I mean, I don't exactly believe in hell, but... I believe in being a decent human being.
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Plan the work. Work the plan.
Plan the work. Work the plan.
General idea... I should not be uncharitable just because I think someone else might not be deserving of charity.
The "hell" in my case would be feeling guilty about not helping someone. I've had a few times when I was uncharitable and felt pretty bad afterward.
The "hell" in my case would be feeling guilty about not helping someone. I've had a few times when I was uncharitable and felt pretty bad afterward.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
Shop2LiveinFL Wrote:
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> I perform MANY small purchase required shops on a
> monthly basis. If I am not buying something I
> actually want/need for myself, I buy a 16 oz.
> bottle of water or a 12 oz. can of Coke and keep
> them cold in a cooler while I am driving around.
> When the homeless/needy/whatever ask for money, I
> offer them a bottle of water or a Coke. 99% of
> them are more than happy to have the cold drink.
> I sometimes hand out bananas; they don't seem to
> go over as well.
I'll vouch that S2L does that AND she hugs them.
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> I perform MANY small purchase required shops on a
> monthly basis. If I am not buying something I
> actually want/need for myself, I buy a 16 oz.
> bottle of water or a 12 oz. can of Coke and keep
> them cold in a cooler while I am driving around.
> When the homeless/needy/whatever ask for money, I
> offer them a bottle of water or a Coke. 99% of
> them are more than happy to have the cold drink.
> I sometimes hand out bananas; they don't seem to
> go over as well.
I'll vouch that S2L does that AND she hugs them.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
My good deed for the day. I usually buy my food with credit card, but the FF shop requires I pay with cash. When I came out of a shop, a late 30's homeless guy was about 10' from the door. He said he was hungry and asked for change. I handed him my left over cash from the shop, which was about $1 plus change. Was I surprised when he went inside and got in line! I went back inside and gave him $5 more, since he really was getting food and at least he could get a value meal with the $6 plus change.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
Okay, on the negative side, I saw this 20/20 special years ago, where this guy would beg in the subways of New York, every day, 7 days a week and said he pulled in about $52,000 a year! 
He said why should he work when he can pull in this kind of money?
He said why should he work when he can pull in this kind of money?
Yes!! It's this chapter right in the middle of my life that's unfinished. It doesn't make sense without it.
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Plan the work. Work the plan.
Plan the work. Work the plan.
There's a homeless lady in town. She begs at the local Walmart each day. I was doing a ride along with one of the local police officers. He told me they estimate she takes in $50-75 per day. The interesting thing is that she has a gym membership. She doesn't workout at the gym, but each day she goes there for a shower.
.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
I applaud you, Sunny, for your warm and caring heart. It's people like you that make the world a better place.
Were you not supposed to sample the food for the report, though? Just wondering....
I recently "met" one of the "sign waivers" that advertise how down and out they are. She told me she only made $3 that day, which was not enough for the meth she wanted to buy.
Were you not supposed to sample the food for the report, though? Just wondering....
I recently "met" one of the "sign waivers" that advertise how down and out they are. She told me she only made $3 that day, which was not enough for the meth she wanted to buy.
Mystery Shopper since 1998; Author of Make Money Mystery Shopping available on Amazon in the Kindle Store.
Wow! What an incredible story. Incredibly emotional. Thank you for reaching out to her and giving her some sort of solace, if even only for a short moment. <3
I think you did a good thing. I always help people if I can. I don't really care if someone is a scammer. I'd rather help a few scammers and be able to help the one thats truly in need then to refuse to help anyone.
I can't control what people are, or do. So in the end it's about me. What kind of person do I want to be? I want to be one that helps if possible.
I can't control what people are, or do. So in the end it's about me. What kind of person do I want to be? I want to be one that helps if possible.
Sunnydays, I tried to offer my food to a panhandler during my fast food shop, but he did not want it. He wants money !
A few months ago, on a rainy cold morning, I did a nice Coconut Chocolate Latte shop. As I pass this homeless person, I offered it to him. He was very appreciative.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2014 12:22AM by BetteL.
A few months ago, on a rainy cold morning, I did a nice Coconut Chocolate Latte shop. As I pass this homeless person, I offered it to him. He was very appreciative.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2014 12:22AM by BetteL.
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. <<<<=====
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
[prayerfoundation.org]
by Dr. Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. <<<<=====
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
[prayerfoundation.org]
Time to build a bigger bridge.
Yeh, that's true. Most of them are scammers. However, today it was 92 here in NE Ohio and I had a cold bottle of water in my car. I handed it to a panhandler and he said, "Aw, yeah, that's better than money today." There have been other days where I have handed off a granola bar to the same corner and gotten a deadpan, "Geez. Thanks."
Well at least I know something I did was worth something, though I would have rather found someone more in need. I wish when I had those bags of pizza (from that certain pizza shop many of us do) on hand I could find who really needed them more easily. After taking photos, I have divided them into ziplocks and tried to find those who truly were in need, only to have the recipients at the offramp with the "will work for food" sign give me a blah look and an insincere "gee thanks lady" as I passed them off a bag...
Well at least I know something I did was worth something, though I would have rather found someone more in need. I wish when I had those bags of pizza (from that certain pizza shop many of us do) on hand I could find who really needed them more easily. After taking photos, I have divided them into ziplocks and tried to find those who truly were in need, only to have the recipients at the offramp with the "will work for food" sign give me a blah look and an insincere "gee thanks lady" as I passed them off a bag...
Canuck Wrote:
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> I saw a guy with a family and kids on the corner
> of a street near Walmart, holding a big sign
> asking for money. He was young and appeared
> physically fit. So! Why is this family guy not working?
> Easier to mooch. I believe you when you say they
> are scammers. Professional beggars no doubt.
A young family of mom, dad, a little kid, and a baby in a stroller, would beg on the streets. Finally, an charitable organization tracked them down to offer help, but instead found out the truth.
The parents would beg for money all day, use most of it for heroin, and check into a cheap motel for the night.
What to do besides kick some ___, I don't know...
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> I saw a guy with a family and kids on the corner
> of a street near Walmart, holding a big sign
> asking for money. He was young and appeared
> physically fit. So! Why is this family guy not working?
> Easier to mooch. I believe you when you say they
> are scammers. Professional beggars no doubt.
A young family of mom, dad, a little kid, and a baby in a stroller, would beg on the streets. Finally, an charitable organization tracked them down to offer help, but instead found out the truth.
The parents would beg for money all day, use most of it for heroin, and check into a cheap motel for the night.
What to do besides kick some ___, I don't know...
I was at a gas station quite a few years ago and there was a woman about 20 years younger than me and she was about to pump gas,she came over and asked me if I had 10.00 so she could get enough gas to go to the grocery store then home. I gave her the 10.00 for gas and did not think much about it. I decided to stop at the local grocery store to pick up some stuff for breakfast. There she was talking to the manager about picking up a prescription for her sick kid. She did not have enough money and they would not let her get the medicine without paying in full. I stepped in and gave her a 20.00.
Canuck Wrote:
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> ...I believe you when you say they
> are scammers. Professional beggars no doubt.
I'd rather waste a few coins on scam artists than see that 2% suffer.
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> ...I believe you when you say they
> are scammers. Professional beggars no doubt.
I'd rather waste a few coins on scam artists than see that 2% suffer.
BetteL Wrote:
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> Sunnydays, I tried to offer my food to a
> panhandler during my fast food shop, but he did
> not want it. He wants money !
>
> A few months ago, on a rainy cold morning, I did a
> nice Coconut Chocolate Latte shop. As I pass this
> homeless person, I offered it to him. He was very
> appreciative.
You just have to use your best judgement and hope that the person is in true need
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sunnydays, I tried to offer my food to a
> panhandler during my fast food shop, but he did
> not want it. He wants money !
>
> A few months ago, on a rainy cold morning, I did a
> nice Coconut Chocolate Latte shop. As I pass this
> homeless person, I offered it to him. He was very
> appreciative.
You just have to use your best judgement and hope that the person is in true need
dspeakes Wrote:
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... I'd rather they go to hell for
> scamming me than me go to hell for not helping
> someone who truly needed it...
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... I'd rather they go to hell for
> scamming me than me go to hell for not helping
> someone who truly needed it...
The correct usage is "would have", not "would of". I'm surprised no editor told you that yet.
I live in Florida, and once I stopped and asked a man who was begging at a (big) off-ramp if he wanted a job. He happily gave me a number where I could contact him, and he ended up doing some yard work, handyman jobs and light painting. He told me that he was happier to earn the money, and it was a win-win.
I live in Florida, and once I stopped and asked a man who was begging at a (big) off-ramp if he wanted a job. He happily gave me a number where I could contact him, and he ended up doing some yard work, handyman jobs and light painting. He told me that he was happier to earn the money, and it was a win-win.
Ditto!!! Many are desperate, but they ARE fellow human beings. If we can't help, the least we should do is not ignore them (or worse.)
Be glad that you're not in that position, and do what you can...even if it's just a kind word.
Be glad that you're not in that position, and do what you can...even if it's just a kind word.
dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Paradoxical Commandments
>
> by Dr. Kent M. Keith
>
> People are illogical, unreasonable, and
> self-centered.
> Love them anyway...
Good but I prefer...
DO GOOD.
Do to others what you would like them to do to you.
Be honest and fair.
Be generous.
Be faithful to your family and friends.
Take care of your children when they are young.
Take care of your parents when they are old.
Take care of those who cannot take care of themselves.
Be kind to strangers.
Respect all life.
Protect the natural environment upon which all life depends.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 2003, 2005
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Paradoxical Commandments
>
> by Dr. Kent M. Keith
>
> People are illogical, unreasonable, and
> self-centered.
> Love them anyway...
Good but I prefer...
DO GOOD.
Do to others what you would like them to do to you.
Be honest and fair.
Be generous.
Be faithful to your family and friends.
Take care of your children when they are young.
Take care of your parents when they are old.
Take care of those who cannot take care of themselves.
Be kind to strangers.
Respect all life.
Protect the natural environment upon which all life depends.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 2003, 2005
My daughter makes homeless kits. Winter with gloves, granola bar and water bottle. Summer she freezes the bottles and leaves out the gloves. In 5 years she's only been treated badly once. Most if the people are just thrilled she thought of them. She saw a man making balloon animals with a sign. She was getting ice cream so she bought him one too. He told her he didn't want ice cream he wanted money to buy more balloons. She just went on and kept sharing with her "homeless people". She's one who has bought a dog toy, on a mystery shop, because the people outside the building had a dog.
annie
annie
A young man in Baltimore was asking for money to feed his kids. Saw him an hour later a few blocks away smoking cigarettes with a few other young men on a corner. In DC I had just purchased an apple and orange from a street vendor. A street person asked for $$ and I handed over the fruit. He seemed grateful. In a parking lot near a large grocery chain, a man was asking everyone for $10 for gas. I watched for awhile. He kept asking even though he collected a few $10s.
Once on a bus I was talking to a minister's son from another area. He was telling how generous his father was and the many folks that showed up each day. His advice - look at their shoes. In DC there was a female that had the same spot every day. Her boots and coats were better than mine.
Once on a bus I was talking to a minister's son from another area. He was telling how generous his father was and the many folks that showed up each day. His advice - look at their shoes. In DC there was a female that had the same spot every day. Her boots and coats were better than mine.
I want to say thank you for taking the time to help that guy. Who are we to decide if a person truly needs the help they are asking for. It takes a lot for someone to overcome their pride and admit that they need help. I will give change or a few dollars if I have it on me, and I have gone and bought food then returned to give it to someone. We are all human and I can't stand to think about someone going hungry. Everyone has their own issues that we may not know that may be causing them to be where they are today. The helping hand you offer someone today may be the one who helps you tomorrow.
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