I had such a moving experience this morning, I thought it was worth sharing:
On my way to the café this morning I walked by the same homeless man that I always see in Dinkytown. He smiles at me every morning on my way to class and usually asks if I can spare a sandwich or some change. I have always said no, because I'm in a hurry or don't have cash, and he just smiles and tells me it's okay and to have a great day. Today, after our usual interaction ending with me saying "I'm sorry, but good luck!" I felt guilty...I wasn't in a hurry this morning. So I changed my mind, went into the café and bought a blueberry muffin to go. When I went outside, he was gone. I walked a block down and found him on the next corner, but when I approached him to give him the bag, he looked up at me, shook his head, and closed his eyes. I reached out to hand it to him, telling him that I picked him up some breakfast, and he started to cry. He put his hands in his pockets and wouldn't accept it. I set the bag on the ground at his feet and told him that I'd already eaten breakfast, so I hoped he'd take it, and I turned around and walked the opposite way.
Halfway down the block I turned back and the bag and the man were gone.
It turns out, to him that muffin meant a lot more than just breakfast.
Sometimes it takes an experience like this to remember to notice people, to not make assumptions, and to take a minute of your day to do something small that will make a big difference for someone else.
Reach out to someone today!
