Help Others.org: Walking Away with an Open Heart -- A Kindness Story

I was on my lunch break in the city, enjoying a salad at an outdoor cafe, when a disheveled homeless lady came walking towards me. She was yelling and begging everyone who walked past her for spare change and she looked like a mess. My instant reaction was fear... to close off and hope she didn't come near me, but she did. I was on the phone and when she came over yelling, I said, "I'm on the phone," in the nicest way I could, assuring myself what she needed was a lesson in manners. After all, that is rude to interrupt someone and I have very little money as it is, if she only knew and on and on... She walked away, mumbling, "I'm annoying you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'll leave." And she turned the corner.

Normally, I would feel relieved or satisfied, but something in me couldn't rest. Without another thought, I looked in my wallet for the spare change I had. It was just dimes and pennies, but I found a few and was going to give them to her. Suddenly, something amazing happened. I started searching through my entire purse, the bottom, the pockets, everything - for ALL of the change I could possibly find to give, and something in me cracked. It felt like my heart broke and poured open and the restlessness abruptly stopped.

I got up and walked towards this lady as she was ranting and yelling and said, "This is all that I have." And for once, I meant it. It wasn't just some cop out, or some pained smile -- for once, I reached out and gave a person all I had. She held my hand and said, "Thank you! Thank you!" Her hand was calloused, and rough and dirty, but I didn't mind holding her hand. I wanted to be there for her for some reason, when normally I would turn the other way.

She looked at me and said, "Will you touch my face?" And for some reason, I did. I reached up and put my hand on her cheek and she started to cry. Her manic energy stopped and she was still and calm and it sent a shock through me that I can't really explain. Right there, on the corner with people walking all around, I sat there for a few brief moments with my hand on her cheek. Her rough hand, over my soft, manicured hand. I could sense it was as if she had not been touched by a loving, soft hand in ages, if ever, and so I held it there, trying to comfort her with my heart open. It was powerful.

After a few moments, my embarrassment of what others might be thinking kicked in, and I took my hand away. I said, "Take care of yourself, okay. You will be okay. Just take care of yourself. Be careful." She thanked me, and she walked away quietly. She wasn't yelling or begging anymore, and I walked away with an open heart, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

I don't know if it mattered, or if she was just crazy, or if I am crazy, or what. I wasn't even going to tell anyone about this because I felt embarrassed and strange after this bizarrely intimate experience, but my roommate found this website and insisted I tell my little story. I don't know why I did what I did, and I don't really know what happened on that street corner, but it changed something in me and has made me want to be a kinder person to the people I meet during my day. I am so happy to have found this site and I thank you for making the world a better place... one act of kindness at a time. :)

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81 comments: page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Olive Ioane wrote: Thank you so much for sharing this. It has made my morning so much better.

Phalini wrote: Thanks for sharing this cool experience. My husband and i visit india frequently. In the busy cities of india, one sometimes encounters beggars. I have neglected beggars often, but my behavior always left me a little dissatisfied. A couple of years ago, after a particularly distasteful experience with a beggar, i expressed to my husband that i felt uneasy with my treatment of beggars. We decided that from then on, we would always give something to sit-down beggars and genuinely disabled beggars whenever we see them. I was so excited that we had finally come up with a plan, that the first sit-down beggar i saw on the streets of delhi, i enthusiastically gave a donation to. I slipped a handful of coins into his palm and greeted him with, "hare krishna. " he was blind, so the coins falling into his cupped hand and hearing my voice startled him a little, but he quickly composed himself. He smiled, pranamed, and said, "hare krishna" back to me. We all felt happy--the beggar, my husband, and i--and that small loving exchange with a man who quietly sat on the sidewalk of a busy delhi street left a memorable impression on my heart.

Ursela Rabe wrote: Nice story, but come on, all you who commented are acting like this was such an extraordinary thing to do! ? What is wrong with you people? I did not find it all that inspiring. That old woman should not be in this situation to begin with. Put your sentimentality aside and put yourselves in her shoes and do something about helping people like that. Find them, they are there! Or go to your local animal "shelter" and help the animals on death row. Come on, get off your spoiled and frightened butts and do something for those less fortunate around you!

Soraya wrote: God touches us and teaches us in so many ways. I'm sure you are a better person for the experience. God bless you for the joy you brought in the life of that lonely lady. May he give you peace, and may you never have to stretch your hand out to anyone ever, except to him.

Many years ago i had locked my baby in the car with my purse and with no money to call my husband to come open the door with his spare key. It was so humiliating to have to ask people for a 25 cent coin! To make a call. I can barely feel the depth of desolation that lady must have felt whilst she asked you and others around for some change. We are blessed and must be so grateful for it.

Sadaqa wrote: Yes giving is an enriching experience. Thats why in my religion sadaqa (giving alms) is highly encouraged. During ramada u should see how much people give - with both hands full. Food, clothes, cash. On my part i always look for the biggest currency note when digging for money to give away to beggars not the smallest change. As when i ask god i ask for the biggest of things & not the smallest of change. Hence when giving open your heart & simply give & it shall all come back to you in one way or another.

madhur wrote: Beautiful, deep and enriching story. I am sure it opened your heart and made you feel so much more human as much as it did the beggar.

Sharing wih love or making someone feel wanted, accepted is one of the biggest gifts we can give.

Thank you for being and doing as you did. We are so shy to be good and kind , your story is an inspiring lesson

Loida wrote: The human need a touch. W e need a 8 hugs every day to survive. This one of the love languages. I'm fisicaltherapist and in my profession i learned that if we touch one another with good intentions and love we can healings a lot of emotions and body and soul became healthy. Jesus touch the people with contagius desease too, when he came to earth, because he know what we need, he create us with this afection.

Ashley Isaako wrote: It is a very marvelous story. Thank you so much for inspiring me. May the lord be within your loving heart and may he bless you.

Norm Milstein wrote: It is unfortunate but common that fear builds walls that obstruct compassion. Rational caution in many urban areas makes sense. But so does reaching out and being kind. Thanks for sharing your story, and for treating a struggling human being with kindness and dignity. It's worth it to cross that border when you can!

meitha soekotjo wrote: How lovely moment you've had ktt1701.

Thank you for sharing it here.

It makes my morning so unspeakable.

God bless you always. <3

Walking Away with an Open Heart

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