anything helps

On my way to school today, I saw three homeless men standing on the side of the street, clutching cardboard signs asking for anything drivers had to offer. At first I only saw one man, scruffy beard and dirty skin, wearing old camouflaged hunting attire and a matching cap. His sign read, "Hungry and needin' soap. Anything helps." When I saw his face and the sad, disheartened expression on it, I had to look away.

The light turned green and I drove around the corner, passing another young man leaning up against the traffic light pole, also holding a cardboard sign out for people to see. Soon I was stopped at another red light, only to see the third young man pacing in the median. In one hand was his sign: "Traveling and hungry, anything helps." In the other hand he held a leash tightly, a scrawny puppy pulling at the other end. He wore a worn-out leather jacket, and I could see two neck tattoos peeking out above his collar. Someone two cars in front of me reached out a hand with some money, and he hurried over to the vehicle to retrieve it, head bowed perhaps in shame or embarrassment. My heart sunk to see the emptiness in his eyes, and again I turned away because it was too hard to watch him stand there and plead for help.

I wanted to do something, really I did. A few dollars were inches away from me in my wallet, but I never reached for them. I was scared and felt ashamed for them. It broke my heart to see them all standing there hoping that someone would reach out their hand to help them, and I am ashamed of myself for not being a more kind and generous person to someone who needed help. If I were to ever find myself in a situation like theirs, I would want someone to help me.

(picture from here)

Other things to mention:

1. The Boyfriend and I have been dating for TWO years today!

2. Yoga is amazing. My body felt so good yesterday after I completed my yoga video.

3. I am seriously craving an iced chai and any excuse not to work on my homework.