OK, so I've yet to catch on to the blogging phenomenon. In fact, this is my first blog ever. But I recently had an experience that I feel like I need to get out to the world! Hopefully even just one person reads this and at least considers what I have to say.
I work in a bank and last week I had an experience that got me thinking. A lady withdrew ten loonies (one dollar coins for you non-Canadians). I didn't really think anything of it, I assumed she needed parking money or whatever but for some reason she felt compelled to explain to me what it was for. Every pay cheque she takes ten loonies and puts them in her pocket and gives one to the first ten homeless people she encounters. I thought this was such a beautiful and simple thing which I have decided to adopt. The way I look at it is that the benefits are endless. One: helps out a person in need, and there's never anything wrong with that! Two: it may prevent a homeless person from having to commit a crime like breaking into a car (a scenario I unfortunately have experienced). Three: it's a good deed that should make you feel good cuz that in itself is it's own reward. Four: for you Buddhists, it delivers good karma:
(side story: my uncle used to give this kid in his neighbourhood a ride to school everyday. Not that he was close with the family or anything, but because he knew education was important and wanted to do everything to help the kid make it in this crazy world. Years and years later this boy's father came into some money and through conversation discovered that my uncle used to ride motorbikes but gave it up when he started his family. Anyways, my cousins are all grown up and have careers now so as a show of appreciation this man gave my uncle a motorbike!)
Anyways, my point is that something so minute as $5 a week can really make a difference in the overall balance of the world. Those of you who have seen "Butterfly Effect" may be familiar with the chaos theory quote, "It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world." Well, how about the "Happiness Theory"?
"A dollar to one person is a fortune to another"
I work in a bank and last week I had an experience that got me thinking. A lady withdrew ten loonies (one dollar coins for you non-Canadians). I didn't really think anything of it, I assumed she needed parking money or whatever but for some reason she felt compelled to explain to me what it was for. Every pay cheque she takes ten loonies and puts them in her pocket and gives one to the first ten homeless people she encounters. I thought this was such a beautiful and simple thing which I have decided to adopt. The way I look at it is that the benefits are endless. One: helps out a person in need, and there's never anything wrong with that! Two: it may prevent a homeless person from having to commit a crime like breaking into a car (a scenario I unfortunately have experienced). Three: it's a good deed that should make you feel good cuz that in itself is it's own reward. Four: for you Buddhists, it delivers good karma:
(side story: my uncle used to give this kid in his neighbourhood a ride to school everyday. Not that he was close with the family or anything, but because he knew education was important and wanted to do everything to help the kid make it in this crazy world. Years and years later this boy's father came into some money and through conversation discovered that my uncle used to ride motorbikes but gave it up when he started his family. Anyways, my cousins are all grown up and have careers now so as a show of appreciation this man gave my uncle a motorbike!)
Anyways, my point is that something so minute as $5 a week can really make a difference in the overall balance of the world. Those of you who have seen "Butterfly Effect" may be familiar with the chaos theory quote, "It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world." Well, how about the "Happiness Theory"?
"A dollar to one person is a fortune to another"
The government needs to fork over more money for treatment programs and low income housing and we wouldn't have such and epidemic!