The past few days have been extremely challenging- and as I previously posted, I don't like a challenge. Not surprisingly, the hardest part has been not being able to buy coffee all week. Yesterday and today however, I "cheated," and bought myself a cup of coffee for 2.00 bringing me to a total of $44.00 for the week. Many people often stereotype the poor and often I hear people say that they are lazy. Maybe its not that they are lazy at all, maybe they just can't afford coffee. The working poor often hold two jobs, have kids, and constantly have to stress about where there next meal will come from. On top of that, they can't have the daily energy boost that many of us get to enjoy. After this week, I have never felt more sympathy for those people who have to combat this daily challenge.
Additionally, this week I learned how gracious people can be. Not only did 2 people offer to buy me a cup of coffee (they must have read my blog), one friend surprised me with a sandwich and another had her boyfriend make me chicken parmesean. This made me wonder, how often do the working poor get to experience such graciousness? How often do they frequent food pantries or soup kitchens so that they can get meals? If you have ever worked in either of these establishments, you are undoubtedly changing the lives of these people. I encourage everyone who is reading this to take the time to consider how much people appreciate your kindness. Please don't underestimate the value of a good deed.
I am excited to end this challenge tomorrow and get back to my normal life. However, I will never forget this experience and the impact that it had on me. It opened my eyes to the way that the majority of America is currently living. The fact that most people have to wake up an hour early just so that they can eat breakfast, have a cup of coffee, and make their lunch. If they happen to forget their lunch, they are either forced to take another hour of their day to go home or not eat all. This was a huge struggle for me. Every challenge has its payoffs though, and the benefits of this experience will stay with me forever. I will never look at a dollar the same way or take advantage of my daily cup of coffee. I will always appreciate the value of a good deed and I will never forget those people who thought about my struggle during the week. If you decide to take this challenge, I guarantee that you will understand the impact of living in poverty and the daily struggle that comes with it.
No comments:
Post a Comment