A true story.....
The crazy events of the last week have really made me look at life and evaluate how I feel about where I am in life and what I have. I was looking at a situation where I thought I could lose my job for the actions of another person. My worries ran deep as if I lose my job, I worry about the new house and my awesome family life with my wife (who would be beside me if I had nothing), PWF (which I would not be able to afford to run), my band, and more. Before I get into the story that holds relevance to today, let me set a little bit of history for you all.
This happened last summer on Pontiac Avenue in Cranston...
At the off ramp near where I work, there was a homeless scruffy-looking guy who would often sit with his dog and collect money that people would give him. Being quite uncharacteristically shallow and callous, I would avoid making eye contact at the stoplight. One day, I had my radio very loud and was trying not to give him attention, not wanting to share the last few dollars I had in my wallet. (It had been the day before payday and I had a car repair that drained me of almost everything). The guy said something to me that I could not hear due to the radio being too loud. I replied, "I'm sorry, I really am broke right now and don't have anything to spare". He looked at me as I turned my radio down and said, "I didn't ask for any money, I asked you 'What's up?" I was very embarrassed, as I really am not usually shallow like that. I apologized for being disrespectful and told him I was heading back to work, but was enjoying the weather. I then asked him about his dog. He relayed how he and the dog, "Buddy", had traveled across the country together. The light turned green and I wished him a great day. He had opened my eyes to the fact that I could fall into the trap of making a preconceived notion about someone, almost like stereotyping.
So back to the present...
I am having what is a horrendous day, thinking my job is in jeopardy and feeling like a pile of shit. I take my clients out to lunch at Burger King. Who is the man in front of me in line? The same homeless guy. He was talking to the cashier and ordering a meal and telling her that he was getting out of work. She asked him about what he was doing and he was involved in some basic construction deal. He turned and said hello to me and I was quick to respond in a cheery way. I was really feeling depressed, but at the same time remembered what I had learned from this guy. He asked how I was doing and I replied "extremely stressed". He asked from what, I replied "My Job". He wanted to know what I did for a living. I told him about running the group homes for developmentally disabled adults. He answered "that is so cool... Helping other people like that... God definitely is looking over you." We talked for another few minutes before going our own ways. What he said about God stuck in my head and strangely enough was a confort in all I was going through. Now this sounds like what someone who is a religious person would get out of the conversation. I am not very religious at all, but this struck me as profound at the point I was at.
In retrospect, yes things are bad at work. They are not worst case scenario and I am not losing my job. I am not in any personal trouble (which there really was no reason). I have re-evaulated my professional responsibilities and chosen to cut back to running one home and being the best damned director that Matt can be. I am not a religious man and often am on the border of being atheistic... but sometimes God speaks to you in mysterious ways.
I hope you all got something out of that story, whether it be saying hello and giving a smile to that homeless person you see on the way to work... or finding some spiritual message if that is your thing.
Regardless, I don't think I will forget what I learned from a homeless man looking to make friendly conversation.
This happened last summer on Pontiac Avenue in Cranston...
At the off ramp near where I work, there was a homeless scruffy-looking guy who would often sit with his dog and collect money that people would give him. Being quite uncharacteristically shallow and callous, I would avoid making eye contact at the stoplight. One day, I had my radio very loud and was trying not to give him attention, not wanting to share the last few dollars I had in my wallet. (It had been the day before payday and I had a car repair that drained me of almost everything). The guy said something to me that I could not hear due to the radio being too loud. I replied, "I'm sorry, I really am broke right now and don't have anything to spare". He looked at me as I turned my radio down and said, "I didn't ask for any money, I asked you 'What's up?" I was very embarrassed, as I really am not usually shallow like that. I apologized for being disrespectful and told him I was heading back to work, but was enjoying the weather. I then asked him about his dog. He relayed how he and the dog, "Buddy", had traveled across the country together. The light turned green and I wished him a great day. He had opened my eyes to the fact that I could fall into the trap of making a preconceived notion about someone, almost like stereotyping.
So back to the present...
I am having what is a horrendous day, thinking my job is in jeopardy and feeling like a pile of shit. I take my clients out to lunch at Burger King. Who is the man in front of me in line? The same homeless guy. He was talking to the cashier and ordering a meal and telling her that he was getting out of work. She asked him about what he was doing and he was involved in some basic construction deal. He turned and said hello to me and I was quick to respond in a cheery way. I was really feeling depressed, but at the same time remembered what I had learned from this guy. He asked how I was doing and I replied "extremely stressed". He asked from what, I replied "My Job". He wanted to know what I did for a living. I told him about running the group homes for developmentally disabled adults. He answered "that is so cool... Helping other people like that... God definitely is looking over you." We talked for another few minutes before going our own ways. What he said about God stuck in my head and strangely enough was a confort in all I was going through. Now this sounds like what someone who is a religious person would get out of the conversation. I am not very religious at all, but this struck me as profound at the point I was at.
In retrospect, yes things are bad at work. They are not worst case scenario and I am not losing my job. I am not in any personal trouble (which there really was no reason). I have re-evaulated my professional responsibilities and chosen to cut back to running one home and being the best damned director that Matt can be. I am not a religious man and often am on the border of being atheistic... but sometimes God speaks to you in mysterious ways.
I hope you all got something out of that story, whether it be saying hello and giving a smile to that homeless person you see on the way to work... or finding some spiritual message if that is your thing.
Regardless, I don't think I will forget what I learned from a homeless man looking to make friendly conversation.