Pennies

Recently, I was at Walgreens (no surprise there, since I swear I end up there twice a week or more) and I got behind a down-trodden man. He was buying a 4 pack of the cheapest toilet paper they had. And he was literally counting out pennies to pay for it.

 

My heart sank a bit. I spend way too much time being wrapped up in my own little upper-middle class bubble sometimes... driving a nice car, living in a prestigious zip code, wearing nice and new clothes, eating out whenever and wherever I want, traveling the world, buying name-brand groceries. I could've easily handed the guy a dollar or two to help him out, but I worried if that would hurt his pride. He had enough change, and taking a minute to wait in line while he finished his transaction wasn't going to be the death of me.

 

As we barrel full-steam toward the holidays, maybe it's time for me to take a step back and be grateful for what I have, and to also figure out a way to help those less fortunate. I am the queen of hesitancy when it comes to donating to charities. I have been so jaded over the years that I always worry where the money is actually going. So when Puff's company offered an opportunity to buy gifts off a gift tree for low income senior citizens, I thought that could be my chance.

 

It's a small step. I realize that. I realize that I hoard my money and don't give freely enough with it, or my time. I am selfish and I acknowledge and understand that fact. Perhaps 2012 will be the year I figure out the best way for me to help someone else, but to also feel OK with that decision. I want to make a difference, but I want to know I'm making the *right* difference.