There is a reason why no one likes the sound of their alarm clock. Seven in the morning hits, and we are already sucked into the daily routine of our schedule, consumed by repetition. Wake up, get ready, work, study, have almost identical conversations with the same people, dinner, study more, go to bed. With so much to accomplish in 24 hours, we find ourselves suffocating because we can’t take a breath and look around. There isn’t an extra minute to process our own lives, let alone spend our “free time” helping others.

About a year ago, I moved to Spain. As a junior in high school, this was a really drastic change for me because not only would I be moving by myself, but I also did not speak Spanish. Fortunately, I’m pretty adventurous and I don’t even remember feeling scared. My experiences abroad not only opened my eyes to a spectrum of world’s diversity but also changed the way I think and perceive life in general. One experience, in particular, has been on my mind this week.

I spent most of my time living in a smaller town just outside of Madrid called El Escorial. One day I decided I was going to get out and head into the center of the city to do some shopping and explore. A few hours into my trip, I looked down and saw that my bag was open. Obviously, my next reaction was to look inside and that was when I realized someone had stolen my wallet. Panicking, I retraced my steps, looked around for a possible suspect and eventually went to the police. In my broken Spanish (thank you, Google Translate), I explained to the police that I had been pickpocketed and that my cash, social security card, credit card and other personal items were gone. On top of that, my phone had just died and I had no way to pay for the train to get home. The policeman told me there was nothing he could do. My mind went into panic mode, and I tried a series of ideas, including returning all of my purchases, which just sent all the money back to my credit card.

Questioning my lack of fear before moving, I realized I was broke, homeless and stranded on a foreign continent with no means of communication. I sat down, completely defeated. Then due to my desperation, I began to cry. Ironically, I think that’s when I realized how spoiled I was. Growing up, I always felt guilty for what I was given financially and was especially sympathetic for the homeless; however, I never did anything about the way I felt. I remember serving others as being tedious, especially when I was younger because I never saw any direct results. Since I had never been in a position where I was the one in need, I had never felt what it was like to be on the receiving end. This time was different. A Swedish lady approached me and as I explained my situation, I watched in disbelief as she gave me five euros to take the train back to my house.

As I reflected on this experience during the past week, I realized that the lady probably didn’t understand how much what she did meant to me. Her selflessness has inspired me to improve myself and set a goal to do more in my community. I think, as people, we are quickly involved with ourselves and overwhelmed by our own personal schedules. I’m grateful for people like the Swedish lady who are able to stop, breathe and take a minute to benefit the people around them.