Hope

a beacon of hope
i stopped at my favorite taqueria today and had a delicious burrito and mulled over my thoughts, thinking about how i am so frustrated by the people who surround me and are never satisfied with what they have.

i wrapped up and stood in line to pay, and patted my pockets, looking for my wallet. looked through my bag, wallet nowhere to be found. fuck.

all i had was my coffee money and the bill was about $10. not enough to cover it. oh well, i come here all the time, i thought, they know me, they know i’ll pay next time.

i wasn’t too worried, because it’s just life, but i don’t like putting myself in these positions. i aim to be dependable and reliable.

the woman next to me, complete with earbuds on, speaks up and says ‘oh, don’t worry, i’ll cover it.’

i know, right? a complete stranger willing to help and make up the difference. sure, it wasn’t hundreds of bucks or anything, but that’s no less awesome.

i thanked her a few times and then walked out not sure what to say or do. i lit a smoke and started to walk away.

then i put my cigarette down and went back in to explain how much it really meant to me.

i told her i had been having trouble with my faith in humanity, and her simple kindness was just what i needed. she smiled and told me she forgets her wallet all the time, so she has some empathy.

and that’s really what it is. if you can appreciate a person’s situation and empathize with them, it makes it easier to be kind.

the more you open your heart, mind and eyes, the easier it is to care about your fellow man.