I’ve been traveling a lot lately, and I’ve seen people all over the world who are begging on the street or homeless.
In Thailand, especially, we’ve seen people missing limbs and with severe physical disfigurement. In Bangkok, we saw a woman sitting on the street, begging, with what looked like large tumors hanging off her face.
Sometimes you will see someone missing their legs, lying face down on a busy, dirty, hot sidewalk, with their arms outstretched, holding a cup for donations.
I’ll make some generalizations here. No one likes seeing homeless people. Everyone feels sad when they see someone begging, or if they see someone who is disfigured or disabled lying in the street. Don’t get me wrong– I don’t think I’m special because I feel bad about seeing people who are struggling.
But when I see someone begging on the street, like the people I mentioned above, a feeling jolts through my entire body. I don’t know how to explain it–it’s like a flash, or a shock, from head to toe. I feel an intense sadness, and then I feel like I should give the person money, but then I’m too shy and timid to do it. Then, the guilt. Then I can’t stop thinking about the person.
What might their situation be? Can you imagine how bad it must be to be begging on the street? They must be so hot and uncomfortable. Their clothes look so dirty–I wonder if and when they are able to bathe? I wonder where they go at night. Do they not have any family that can take care of them? Some doctor somewhere must be willing to help them with their physical ailment for free, right?! Then I think about how fortunate I am to be healthy, to have family, to be able to afford food, health care, and lodging.
Since highly sensitive people sometimes have heightened emotions and empathy, it makes sense that HSPs may have more intense reactions to seeing homeless or people begging on the street. As an HSP, what do you think?
I can really relate to this! What’s worse is that I have been reprimanded for being generous with beggars or homeless people because some don’t see them as “deserving!” I hate it when people accuse people on the street as liars. That just pains me! I don’t want to feel like what I’m doing is wrong on top of the guilt I already feel for being privileged.
Another thing this article brings up is something from when I was younger (but have gotten over more recently). Any time I saw an old man on the street (not necessarily poor), I’d cry. Or I’d at least have my eyes swell up, but I’d swallow the lump in my throat from embarrassment. I think it was the age factor (picture a man that resembles Santa Clause). It may have to do with the fact that I had my paternal grandfather die when I was 3, but I think I saw them nearing death and that upset me. I’m not sure why it hit so closely to home or why I had so much compassion for old men, but I just had the urge to cry every time I saw one anywhere. I genuinely felt sorry for them, despite not knowing them or their situations. Not sure where those assumptions were coming from. I wished more than anything to feel indifferent, but I couldn’t force myself to have that reaction/those feelings.
In high school, I told people “I’m emo! I feel the need to “have a cry” for everybody!” And I did feel like something was wrong for me, but I had “emo” friends so that worked out haha.
What helped was volunteerwork. I got into volunteering for homeless/poverty causes since middle school. I worked as a receptionist for a soup kitchen one summer, which was a very rewarding job. I decided I wanted to work for nonprofits one day because of that! I always feel the urge to help or empower people in any way that I can make possible.
Thanks for sharing, Leena! Volunteering is a great suggestion.
Every single time I SEE or HEAR a homeless I feel sad. I hurts me to see people like that
i agree with you lily it makes me feel sad.
i am always sad when i a homelss man on the road just asking for money to suport them slves and i always want to give some to them but i cant coz i have no money as i am only 10 . Also i saw wikipedia asking for some donation to keep there company runnning my parents said that they just want more money they dont realy need it so maybe ile ask my mom if she can give me money everytime i do something in the house so i can give to wikipedia and homeless people 🙂 stay safe everyone
I have seen some homeless being dropped off near a busy intersection, then being picked up later….these people are like whores working for a pimp, who collects most of that income. We need new laws for this….now
U have to be homeless to understand a person I am homeless it hard I seen different people that are homeless and some of them won’t to better there life other don’t am one of them who won’t to change that people judge before asking am 42 years old still able to work but to get a 8 to 5 I can’t because it hard finding a ride people tell me to get the bus but I don’t believe in that I just tired of this life I need help
I disagree, I believe people like you are fake. You don’t want to see them because they bother you they personally bother you they invade your space they’re dirty they’re filthy they’re disease infested you wish they were dead anyone who says they feel sorry for stray kitties and dogs and puts animals in the same category as humans is a sub human themself. You’re actually a very despicable me evil person inside but you have to come here right this nonsense to try to make yourself feel better so can get some positive feedback from people but you and people like you are the worst.
I have HSP and when I see certain homeless people, I saw a twenty something black girl, she told me she stays at the river and she started crying, she had a big dog and bat for protection. I gave her money [ she didn’t ask me ] and prayed with her to go to the shelter, at least tie up the dog so she could go in to eat. I told her it is so unsafe for her, she explained to me she made bad choices and her daughtter is with her parents. I got my husband to go back and look for her to at least maybe give clothes and a tent. I am so sad right now. I will keep looking for her, but yet I can’t bring her home my older children and siblings would get mad at me.I hope she stays safe until she can get the help she so needs, [off drugs too ].
I feel the same way. I get almost tearful when I see the homeless, especially when people assume things about them. I always want to help them, but I am too timid to do so.
Yes,I’m 13 and I always get sad when thinking about people who were born into families that cannot care for them properly. I wonder, why do I get to be born in this family, with the nhs (free healthcare service) etc and others have to beg for food and go without for days and days. I really want to start volunteering somewhere but I don’t live in a big city so I don’t know what I can do. I live 20/30 mins away from Plymouth (England) but mum would have to drive me in etc. plus, what could I do there?
Hi all,
I live in a country where there are countless homeless people around. It’s quite hard to not see a few of them from where I live and when I am driving. They also come up to the cars and beg for money everyday. I tell myself that I’m not going to support being homeless by not offering money when they ask but when the situation comes around it’s like a shock moment where I just immediately feel their (pain)… or perhaps this is the guilt I feel that I have and they do not. There is a guy who is in a wheelchair and has only one arm. I see him almost everyday. He keeps going everyday despite his condition, and sometimes for me it is so saddening to see that he is in that unfortunate position. I have given him money before but I can’t keep giving out money every single day, surely there is a place that he can go where they can take care of him? It saddens me tremendously to see this in this world. I hope that one day there will be no homeless people and we can all live together in harmony. Bless you all and blessings to everyone here. Thank you for your time.
Exactly the same feelings that I have when I see a poor person on the road, especially very young children and infants begging. I can’t just stop thinking about them and it gets all over me and I feel so guilty of my existence and my inability to be of any help to them. I have this strange feeling of not wanting to stop thinking about their deplorable condition. Their pain becomes addictive, the more I think about them, the more I want to think about their plight.
I am not trying to look any different, but I feel very ashamed of being someone powerful but not wanting to step out and do something for them, maybe I am shy, I do not know. I do end up giving some food I may be carrying or some alms, but there is this strong, very strong feeling in me that I can do much much better for them. Why not, take them to a shop – get them something to wear, get them something better to eat and so on .. but where does it end ? Can I take them home ? No..then I get into this interview mode with myself.. and I ask myself – if there is absolutely nobody that can do something better for them ? If I am useless, shy, powerless to do something, there are better people in the world than me.. why can’t I find someone who can set a better example than me ?
But I find none – at that instance..
My heart splits into tears when I see infants and that lump is throat is awful to swallow. It does not demotivate me, but it holds my thoughts on the expectations I have from my life.. I reach a very quick conclusion that God has given me so much and I have been so rude to others who don’t have as much as me.. Is God watching ? Will he punish me ? What must he be thinking of me, I mean I fall in front of my eyes. This feeling is awful. I don’t find comfortable sharing this with anyone too, as it makes me look wanting attention for being very sensitive, but ashamed to dare to help for all the big thoughts I feel.
So much rant for what I feel and my state. But is there no way out to get the begging curse out of our society ? With so many human beings, is it so difficult to get rid of this ? Well, yes I am ashamed I do not know how to tackle this, but there are so many super smart and super intelligent people in this world, what are they thinking ?
Why do we countrymen leave no stones unturned when it comes to spend money to research on Science to prove competition with nature, but when it comes to leveling our society ‘scientifically’ we fail ?? Modestly I think, this is much much easier to do, why is will a challenge here given all the bright people we have on earth ?
I say a short prayer just for the helpless I have seen, and catch my train to work.
Hi All
Thank you for sharing, I just came across this post and so glad I am not alone or going crazy!
I feel this way about animals though. I don’t know why and cant explain it. But when I see a dog or cat on the street, or read about the poor animals starving and people being mean to them, it just drives me to tears and I get overwhelmed with extreme sad emotion. The animals are so helpless and cant speak or defend themselves, I just want to help all of them and feed and love them.
I’m also thinking of volunteering at an animal shelter after reading this post.
Does anyone else feel the same or have some advise?
Thank you
I’ve just come across this site and I’m also trying to find some answers. I hate seeing or hearing bad things about animals and people but especially animals. I foster cats and when they go to a new home my heart breaks even though that’s a good thing. I feel like nobody would take care of them as well as me. I want to help them all but of course that’s impossible. It hurts so much to think about it,so I try and stop but then I feel guilty. Did you manage to find a way to help your situation?
Janelle xx
Hi Janelle, thanks for the comment! I have also fostered dogs and had a period where I was following lots of dog shelters and rescues on facebook and would frequently cry when seeing pictures and stories of dogs that needed homes or did not find a foster or home on time. My husband said to me, “why do you do that to yourself?” and he was right. It doesn’t benefit me to hurt myself by looking at pictures and thinking about the suffering these animals endure. By fostering, you are making a huge difference. You cannot save every cat or dog, and feeling bad and guilty about it doesn’t do you any good. I had to get to the point where I tried to *stop* looking and thinking about those things for my own mental health. While I feel bad about “ignoring” the plight of the animals that need help, at what point is it just futile for me to hurt myself by obsessing over it?
There is guy I used to hang out with in highschool.
He played guitar and I played drums and we even jammed together a few times.
In high school like most do, we all drank on the weekends and smoked a little pot.
Most teenagers do this but I think some people don’t ever get out of that space. This friend I don’t think ever did, and now I see him homeless wandering the streets.
Seeing a homeless person in general is terrible and like you I really really hate it and feel very sad. Seeing someone you actually know or knee, for me, was a whole other level.
I breaks my heart because this person was also a very nice guy.
It makes me realize how close we all are to ending up like that and also how unbelievably greatful I need to be just to have a roof over my head.
Hi everyone,
I’m 19 years old and I went to the library and saw a homeless woman crying. It brought me to tears seeing her cry. She looked like she had no bra on and not under shirt on. She was in the library reading a book and she automatically started crying. I wanted to give her my shirt but it wouldn’t been her right size. Then I wanted to give her money but I didn’t have money on me. I’m happy to see a lot of people are very sensitive just like me. I feel bad for all the homeless kitties, dogs, and homeless people. I hope that homeless lady got all the help and love she needed. If I had money and extra clothes on me I would totally give it to her. She really touched my heart.
Yes I do so much so I think in this society we see death of people Horror movies etc.and destruction on TV all the time and we become calloused at seeing it after all TV and the news is pretty much destruction and death and half truths But yes actually everybody that I’ve ever talked to has said the exact same thing you did something about our precious animals that can’t speak or communicate to us their needs or wants tugs on my heart as a matter of fact after seeing one of those commercials I got in my car and went up to the shelter and got a six-year-old cat that was sitting there by itself alone in a room for two months at the shelter and before that was left by its owners in an apartment that was a true blessing
After every friday prayer outside the mosque,
I see a lady with her disabled husband begging for their living, A mother with her infant child, Two sisters asking people to help for operation of their father, a 11 year old son half naked with his mentally challenged father and some aged men & women who are threwed away by their children.
By seeing all these, i feel like a spear is passing through my heart. And what best i can do is give them some money but here i think i should do something extraordinary for these people who really are in need, if i get rich. Like open-up a big organization which publically declares that if anyone needs financial help, they can contact here. A special job will be provided for the one who can physically work and the one who cannot work physically will be freely helped. So here they will keep their honour and earn with dignity.
Just think that girl who is begging is someone’s sister, a father is begging just because he cannot physically work.
These are true people who deserve to be helped because if you help them then you will be helped by god.
im only 10 but when see a homeless person i cryied =(
Me and my little brother decided to walk to the Gas Station at 3 something in the morning to buy something to drink. When we got there it was this boy named Chris standing at the door reading a newspaped. I walked to the back of the store when I though I heard my brother say something about how he had no life cause he was still standing up there. I started to think that maybe he was homeless. I instantly felt guilty here I was about to buy something that I’m pretty sure I’ll wast when he was probably hungry, I wanted to give him something but I got scared that maybe he might take it the wrong way so I chickened out. I felt sick to my stomach and wanted to throw up I didn’t even want to chips or pop I picked up I just wanted to get out of there. I started crying and yelling at my brother on our way back home. Then I started thinking how blessed I am
Hi Lolita, thank you for sharing. I have had a similar feeling–where I want to help someone but I’m either too nervous or afraid I will offend them. It is such a big rush of emotions. I’m not sure what the solution is. :/
I just came across your article and I felt I could relate so much to it ..am very sensitive when it comes to seeing young children being homeless or wearing torn dirty clothes and not having a proper meal …all I can do at that moment may be buy them a meal but I know one meal cannot survive longer or help them change their fate or lives ..my heart feels very heavy even now when I think of it ..I feel angry on those who pile up n are so greedy for more n more money and cannot do anything for the society ! If one person feeds a child everyday I am sure we can combat so much poverty ..instead there are people who use children as labours and deprive them of food n education..I feel extremely depressed frustrated n angry but end of the day all I could really do is what is in my control and now am trying in whichever way I could …I regret and feel ashamed of myself many times for overspending on luxury things and absolute non essentials when there are so many little kids begging for a basic meal …God save n bless our world !
When I see a homeless person like my auntie I feel very sad because its not cute that they be begging n sitting in other ppl home with a lot of drama
I came upon this page because I too cannot feeling this intense sadness and depression. I feel even worse when I do not give money or help. I am located in a large metropolitan area and there are homeless people everywhere. I realize that I cannot help everyone. I used to give money, then I stopped. I started to just buy food and hand food to homeless people I saw. That was when I worked. I am not an unemployed graduated student and racking up quite a bit of debt that I have to pay back. I feel intense guilt and sadness because I cannot do anything to help. I feel some sort of obligation to help those people who are in a bad situation. At the same time, I am not in the financial position to create care packages or buy food for homeless people. This makes me so sad. Then I wonder to myself, “am I unusual for feeling and thinking this way?” Lately I have been thinking of this one homeless man that camps out on the sidewalk near a grocery store. The area I live in is a residential area with tons of apartment complexes. It is a safer area but there are no government agencies nearby. Several months ago, I saw the homeless man walking about and saw him buying food and eating it outside. Lately, he has not been moving around and he has been laying still on the sidewalk. I think he is slowly wasting away and possibly starving to death. Usually I see homeless people walk around and fend for themselves or beg for money. But this particular man in his 50’s looked like he just lost his job and was newly homeless. He had a kind face and doesn’t seem to bother anyone. I want to help by informing him of all the help centers. There is even a public library where he could go to in order to use the internet for free. I am not sure if the man chooses to live that way, in which case I cannot do anything but if he wants and seeks help, I would be more than happy to make some calls to local agencies. Is it possible that the man does not want help? He is just laying still on the sidewalk with his suitcase.
Hi Terry. Thank you for your comment. Have you spoken to the man? It probably wouldn’t hurt to talk to him. Maybe you can discover more about him–whether he wants help, and what he needs. That might be a first step? And maybe it will make you feel better. Or maybe you could look up some homeless services in your town and call/email them to ask for advice on how to help someone.
That said, you already know that you can’t help everyone, and there is a chance you will not be able to help this man either. I don’t know what else to tell you than to forgive yourself and….gosh I hate to say this, but try to think about something else. Dwelling on your sadness and pain is not productive, as I’m sure you know. Perhaps you could volunteer and that community service will help you feel like you are giving back to your community. Thank you for being kind hearted.
..I feel the same..I always say to my self…”LORD IF U WOULD BLESS ME..TO WIN THE LOTTO…THIS WOULD BE MY FIRST PRIORITY…FOOD…SHELTER…CLOtHING. ..SUPPORT..COUNSELING….” but reality hits me…I don’t have the way to help them..yeah..I could buy them something for that day..but how about at night..where ate they gonna sleep…I cry ..in embarrassed to cry in the street…people look at me..like whats wrong with u..I wanna scream….”this..”pointing to the homeless..I have to make myself hated and put a wall up…I can’t do anything for them…but I pray…”LORD GOD..SO MANY THAT HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN THERE LIFE..ETHER BY FAM…WORK..LOTTO..ECT. ..LORD TOUCH THEM..SHAKE THEM…TOMUCH THEM TOUCH THERE HEART…HEART TO HELP THEM….”
I have been to the Art prize in Grand Rapids Michigan a few times well Everytime I go I end up seeing homeless people sometimes I cry instantly, feel so pained that looking at art is troubling even.. well today I went and also came across a beautiful heartfelt piece called Emoh. It was a time capsule looking piece. Well I didn’t really know much about it but the artist was very sweet looking and I could tell he was filled with love. His work is a commentary on homelessness. I am so shaken up after my visit of course due to some people and how my brother and I were going to eat at this place we like, outdoor seating as well. Well we noticed a disabled homeless man, it saddened us tremendously because it bothered us that people can eat, laugh and have a good time with him there by himself. I guess to be fair maybe some of those people also felt sad. I guess I am still bothered by it.
The other day i was nearby my college at a taco bell,I a was low on food at home and hungry and in their i saw a man with a strange stare. As i payed close attention to him his eyes gave off an energy of sadness and that look just penetrated my soul,he was seemingly homeless and in need,i only had a ten dollar Bill on me and my parents weren’t gonna be able to send me money till the next day for food only. So i couldn’t do much and yuks guilt hurt me. Outside of taco bell some of my peers were able to help him and when i saw and heard the change in his voice and eyes i was so happy that someone helped him. But still, only enough money to probably last him a couple days.
Just now at 4am i woke up from a dream in which i was able to help him. Had a dream i was able to feed him and just feel bad i cant be that much of a help in real life rather than be a bystander. Having slight trouble returning to sleep and i Have to wake up at 7:30
Shit
My 7 year old son saw a Man who must be in his 20sss begging for money in train. It’s been about 3-4 months since that happened. Now every now and then whenever he thinks of him , he starts crying with tears in his eyes and ask me many questions like …why is he like that? Why doesn’t he have home? Where is his family? Where will he go? What he must be doing now ? He gave him name as “man with torn clothes”… This morning he woke up and started crying and told me to look for that man and give all his money from his piggy bank. My daughter laughs out and calls her brother weirdo and my husband shouts at me and say that I am insisting my son…but me being mother feel restless now, I don’t know how to deal with this. Is it really bothering my son’s thinking? Where should I look for that guy again ? I want to make my son give his piggy bank to him so that he does not live with that guilt throughout his life. Is that a good decision ? Anyone any suggestions please ?
Hi Cara, thank you for your comment. I don’t think it is a bad thing that your son is upset about the homeless man. It shows a lot of empathy. This article might be helpful in trying to figure out how to deal with this: http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-poverty-and-homelessness-age_3657085.bc
Instead of trying to find that same man, perhaps you can come up with another way to help the homeless, like donating his piggy bank money to a charity or buying food with his money then donating it.
Homeless. Was every discreet. Never wanted anyone to know. Thought it would be only for a few weeks. Now years. Someone found out and spread it like wildfire. The ugliness started. Banned from the library. From all the major stores; even the dollar store. The police harassment is immeasurable. Sadly, I am now the person I used help. I gave to feel good about myself. Never giving a thought about how that other person felt. So I really understand your sadness. I wish people cared about me the way you all seem to care about the homeless. The shock of how mean people are to me will not wear off. I have the misfortune of being stuck in an uppedy town where I am such a disgrace. The lies told are just mean. I am outside of the college area to use this little tablet a kind girl let me borrow. It’s all cracked up but it works. I do miss life as I knew it. But I can never forget this. I so wish it were just a nightmare. Keep caring. Give and error on the side that you did help someone who really needed you. Most real homeless people do not beg or ask for anything. That separates them from scammers. They are too humble and proud. And like me ashamed. Just googled sad and homeless and I came across this site. Nobody is out tonight because it’s cold. So, I haven’t been shooed away. That’s my nice term for threats of arrest. Hungry and tired. Sleepy and cold. This is very real! Again, weed out the true homeless and you can’t go wrong.
Hello Flower, thank you for your beautiful comment. I am so sorry that you are struggling. You sound like a sweet person. I hope you are able to find some solace. thank you!
I thought I was crazy recently for feeling the same about the homeless…Thanks for sharing your experiences.
just having a conversation goes a long way and it’s usely the ones with the least that give the most thank you all of you I really mean that you are amazing I just thought evey one just see the homeles as failures that don’t deserve anything don’t just expect someone elles to give to homeles that’s staving cuz most people think a like
The thing is that I cry every time I See homeless people, poor people and beggars. My family members and my friends say that it’s because I am too sensitive. But I think they’re right because when I see old people walking because they don’t have a car I also cry because once my grandparent died while walking since he had a sudden heart attack. I also cry when I see old people picking up plastic bottles from trash because I feel so bad for them. Worst of all, I cry whenever I see a picture of my great grandmother since she passed away from leukemia. My family and friends think that I’m kinda annoying like that. Is it really a bad thing to cry?
I know this sounds bad… But how do I stop this. It effects me so greatly.
Life’s not fair that’s the way it is. Growing up I saw people raped, murdered and alot of other horrible things. If homelessness upsets you too the point you can’t deal with YOUR OWN life I would recommend you to continue exposing yourself too it rather than living in a bubble (which is why it’s so shocking in the first place). Help the homeless when you can however that may be, but understand the world isn’t a perfect place and there will ALWAYS be homeless people NO MATTER WHAT. Worry about yourself first and foremost and when you have that figured out start worrying about others.
Tonight I feel this great sadness and guilt. I just got off work, from working at Target. Me and a coworker walked outside and I see this man : heavyset, asian decent with black short hair talking to another coworker outside by the exit. He seemed friendly and kind. Almost like a gentle giant in a way. I always saw him at my work some days I was on a shift in the afternoon through midnight. He would be sitting on those electric carts moving around shopping, or on his cellphone playing games or watching a video at the indoor starbucks. And always alone.. everytime I looked at him, I would make a slight smile and he wouldn’t notice since hed always have his head down. He seemed young, mid 20s maybe, or early 30s. I wasnt so sure if he was homeless or not, but it seemed he was always alone. This time, tonight he had a nice blue shirt on with a backpack. So I thought, maybe, he was just traveling on bus from somewhere. It seemed that Ide see him mostly at night in the store. It was 11:30pm at the time, and I also noticed a woman with a cart full of things and a coworker and I thought they were together. After she said that, I felt this deep sympathy for this man in blue. Other times he would wear a white tank top and it would look a bit dirty. I got home and cried. I wanted to know his story, whether im right if hes homeless or not. I wanted to help him, because for the first time ive never felt this kind of sadness before. I hated that I even have a house over my head or money. I wanted to give him a hug even. I dont want to sound weird, but it hurts to think about it. So many questions popped in my head. Where does he go to every night? Does he have parents or family to go to? And him being heavyset the thought of him walking alone somewhere got to me. I cried so much, I still am. Why would I always see him shopping this late?..I hope I have the courage to ask him when I see him again. Everybody else I know always tell me to never give money or food to the homeless. But why not? They’re people just like us. They could be a brother, or sister, or uncle, an aunt, or cousin from someone out there whose probably thinking of them and concerned as much as I am. They deserve so much. Im definately thinking of volunteering for a group or shelter. I want to make that difference. I really hope the man in blue has some place to stay and food to eat and I hope to see him come into work again so I know he’s okay.
Homeless people need Seyler houses. Seyler houses are tiny homes built for people who do not have homes. Unlike other tiny homes, Seyler homes, they have built-in security, and vouchers to get food and hygiene products. I feel bad for them, but it’s the life they’ve chosen.I’ve seen a guy on the streets, I see him around a 7-11 near me now and then. He talks to himself a lot. Organizations and tiny houses like Seyler houses that can help them do what they can, but you can’t force help on them. one-bedroom home would be 159,000 to build this home, for example, Plymouth housing would buy this tiny Seyler house Because Plymouth housing’s mission is to eliminate homelessness by providing adults experiencing homelessness with opportunities to rethink and improve their lives.
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oh my god i found a homeless person in winter with no cote
I’m homeless and an hsp. I discuss these things with no one.
Everyday it breaks my heart to see all these people look down upon me without even ever hearing me say a word.
It perplexes me how anyone can be so limited that they can’t imagine what life could be like for them had they been less fortunate.
The people who have mastered the art of pretending they don’t even see you are in some ways even more hurtful. It’s hurtful that they can view you as less than human and whats ironic is that they don’t know but I would do anything for any one of them.
Thank you for sharing. I sometimes don’t know what to do when I see homeless people. I will smile and say hello sometimes. But other times I feel awkward because I don’t know what to do, and sometimes I just ignore the situation because I don’t know how to act. Any advice would be appreciated.
I am so glad to run across this thread. Yesterday, I got my hair cut and decided to go to Walmart because I was low on snacks and drinks. I didn’t have a car, so I started walking. When I did, I ran across a group of homeless people underneath the bridge. One of them was a homeless couple, and the lady gave me a look that made me empathize with the pain she was going through, and that look stuck with me as I continued my walk. Instead of wanting groceries for me, I thought about buying three boxes of Little Caesars Pizza and letting all the homeless people under the bridge share it. Idk if it was because I already told myself I was walking to get groceries or the idea of interacting with all those homeless people under the bridge to give them pizza, but I ended up just going to Walmart and getting the groceries I wanted. On the way back, I had to cross the bridge again; when I did, my feelings of guilt escalated. Having each of them look at me with my bag of groceries in my hand reinforced the guilt I felt/the feeling that I looked out only for myself and not somebody in need. I went home and didn’t even eat the food I bought last night.
But now, after talking with my mom last night about my feelings and reading all your guy’s stories, I feel much better knowing that I am not the only one who felt this feeling of guilt when passing by someone less fortunate. My plan now is to continue feeling empathy for those less fortunate but to not put all the weight on my back as though it is my duty to save them all through my sheer will and money power (which I don’t have much of) alone. Instead, I will help out the best way I think I can by volunteering at a group or shelter or even, later when I gain the confidence to do so, use my talent of film and editing to make a short doc about homelessness and help spread the message.
Thank you again for all of you sharing your stories and allowing me the chance to tell my story; it helped me today in moving past my guilt from yesterday. I hope you all moved past your guilt as well, and I hope you have a great rest of your day!