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What is one to do with the Grinches in our lives? Last night's story, "No crib for a Bed" allowed our Scrooge Blair to rediscover the joy of giving. Now, let me be clear here ... my Father-in-law's name is Blair, or as I call him DG for Daddy Gordon, and he in no way represents Blair in the story! The real Blair is kind and giving and has always been like a second Dad to me.
However, I do have someone in my family that was indeed born with a heart two sizes too small and all I can do is hope that one day he get's that magical "Cindy-Lou Who" moment and wakes up. In the story Blair has his "aha" moment when a homeless woman calls him, "Son."
I did also work for a real Scrooge once upon a time and had to fight for my staff to get Boxing Day off. While at that same employer though, real life events inspired the rest of this story. We did have a woman who slept out front of our downtown high rise on a bench in the alcove with her shopping cart of possessions by her side. The staff all did pool together and bought her a coat, boots and blankets along with some tasty treats and gift cards and left them for her early one morning while she slept.
Today, the news is all about the homeless woman in Las Vegas who was living in her car with her toddler and then decided to plough down pedestrians on the strip two nights ago. My heart aches for the victims, their families and also for her and her child. Also on the news this morning was another story of a homeless man who won $25K in a lottery but cannot claim his prize yet because he has no identification. He has a job but lives in lean-to's he builds throughout the city because he cannot afford rent.
The homeless can be helped and I want to thank every person who works to eradicate homelessness in our cities. As I mentioned before, when I have served food at shelters most of the people who came for a hot meal were working and living in their cars because they could not afford a full month's rent as a deposit. Perhaps landlords who still charge this are the true Grinches out there? I grew up in a province that had laws built to protect the renters wherein damage deposits were maxed at $500.00. When I was renting out a property I never charged more than that.
So - here is today's challenge as you charge around the city on last minute errands ... when you see a homeless person, stop and really look at them. Make eye contact, have a conversation, buy them a coffee. A really easy thing to do that just might make a difference in their day. It will for sure make a difference in yours!
Shine on!
- K
However, I do have someone in my family that was indeed born with a heart two sizes too small and all I can do is hope that one day he get's that magical "Cindy-Lou Who" moment and wakes up. In the story Blair has his "aha" moment when a homeless woman calls him, "Son."
I did also work for a real Scrooge once upon a time and had to fight for my staff to get Boxing Day off. While at that same employer though, real life events inspired the rest of this story. We did have a woman who slept out front of our downtown high rise on a bench in the alcove with her shopping cart of possessions by her side. The staff all did pool together and bought her a coat, boots and blankets along with some tasty treats and gift cards and left them for her early one morning while she slept.
Today, the news is all about the homeless woman in Las Vegas who was living in her car with her toddler and then decided to plough down pedestrians on the strip two nights ago. My heart aches for the victims, their families and also for her and her child. Also on the news this morning was another story of a homeless man who won $25K in a lottery but cannot claim his prize yet because he has no identification. He has a job but lives in lean-to's he builds throughout the city because he cannot afford rent.
The homeless can be helped and I want to thank every person who works to eradicate homelessness in our cities. As I mentioned before, when I have served food at shelters most of the people who came for a hot meal were working and living in their cars because they could not afford a full month's rent as a deposit. Perhaps landlords who still charge this are the true Grinches out there? I grew up in a province that had laws built to protect the renters wherein damage deposits were maxed at $500.00. When I was renting out a property I never charged more than that.
So - here is today's challenge as you charge around the city on last minute errands ... when you see a homeless person, stop and really look at them. Make eye contact, have a conversation, buy them a coffee. A really easy thing to do that just might make a difference in their day. It will for sure make a difference in yours!
Shine on!
- K