Have you ever complained about how unfortunate your circumstance or situation is? I know I have. Sometimes I am down right angry that some things do not go my way, but that’s just how life works, right? Some people are handed aces and some, an offhand. I am about to turn 20-years-old and let me tell you, I have had my fair share of “but he has it better than I do!” moments, but if I’ve learned one thing over my short life it is that I have it good. Some days you may not always feel your best, some days you don’t always do your best and sometimes life throws you into downright awful situations – but there’s more to life than that. So let me tell you about Sean, a friend I made who helped me change my view.
Sean is a homeless man who I met at the Publix on Bayshore. About two weeks ago I was on my way to start a shop for my job at Shipt, when I ran into him. It was raining outside, and it was raining on the inside that day. I was done with people, school and work, and I just really wanted to go home. On my way in, this tall, dirt coated, unbathed man called out to me and said “hello” to which I replied the same (my momma raised me better than to be rude, even when I feel down) and that is when my day changed. This man with no job, no local family, no food, no water came running up to me and said “I just want to thank you, sir. I’ve been sitting here for two days and not one person has said hello back to me.” I could not believe how grateful this man was that I simply said “hello.” From there he asked me if I had any time to spare to buy him something to eat because he hadn’t eaten in a few days. I looked at my watch and how much time I had before I had to deliver these groceries I was shopping for and said, “Let’s go, we can buy you some food.” So into Publix we went. I took him back to the fresh roasted chicken and told him to pick out a box. He wanted a drink, so I suggested milk because it would keep him full. Finally, Sean, a bucket of fried chicken, a liter of milk – chocolate per his request – and a snickers bar, made it to the register. He then told me about his family and how he was trying to save up money to visit them. I almost gave him the money for the bus ticket, but I had no more cash to give. As we checked out he was almost in tears thanking me for the food. He was so grateful that someone saw him as a human in need and decided he was worth their time to help.
At that moment, as I stuck my chip card into the card reader I thought how amazing it is to be a person, to be alive, to be able to have a job and money to spend - albeit not that much. Yes, I am in college and just as broke as every other average college student, but for twelve dollars and forty-eight cents, I made this guy’s day, maybe even his week. I was no longer sad about my day, my internal thunderstorm no longer clouded my mind, my day was made better, just as his was. It was then that I finally understood that lesson my parents always taught me – to be grateful for what I have because there is always someone out there who has less; there is always someone out there who would trade their spot for yours. Today, every day, I think of Sean, I think of how he helped me learn so much. After that, we shook hands and parted ways, and I began my shop, a different person than I was before.
