Another day in paradise

I'm sure you heard the Phil Collins version of this song and probably the Brandy version as well. The song shows two sides of the coin of life, one good and one not so good. The words of the song are accurate in so many ways because it is just another day for you in me in paradise.

If you are reading this from a smartphone, you have it alot easier than many many people out there. I'm going to share a story (not for recognition) which I didnt really want to share but I figured it would give us a perspective of what life out there really is like.

So as a medical rep I travel alot and I tend to visit Pietermaritzburg at least once a week. I usually stop at the one stop along the way for a quick loo break and noticed a man completely disheveled, torn clothes and a raggedy blanket which he took everywhere. I always see him there and he bothers nobody for anything but minds his own business and walks around the garage in an aimless wonder.

One day I noticed him rummaging in the bin paying no attention to anyone around him, not bothering a single soul until he found a banana peel. He ate it and my heart sank and I knew there was no way I was leaving there without getting him something to eat. I handed him a hot beverage and a few things to eat and he whispered silently "thank you so much" and bowed so many times. People just looked and ignored as if they couldn't see him and enjoyed their breakfast at the Wimpy restaurant and I just thought to myself how can the coin be this different. I looked at his hands whilst he barely made eye contact with me and noticed his hands were so dark from all the dirt that has accumulated for God knows how long.

He was homeless. No family. Delirious due to hunger (don't always assume drugs) and he was whispering words to himself the entire time. He was starving, dehydrated and I wondered what does he do when he gets the common cold. We grab our corenza c and see a doctor but he is so far away from any clinic, I can't imagine how he would cope.

I looked at my life and realised my life is a cake walk compared to this gentleman's life. He probably freezes at night and has no idea where his next meal will come from. Can you imagine feeling that way? Look at your surroundings, look above you... Life doesn't become as heavy anymore when you realise the simple thing like a cup of hot tea is a luxury for some people.

I understand there are so many syndicates around that try to trap people etc but when you see a homeless and helpless person, you know. Your gut tells you to help. A loaf of bread makes a huge difference to a person, more than you will ever know.

That particular morning, I set out on my route feeling absolutely depressed and gloomy. I could not enjoy the music I was playing and I just felt so out of touch with reality until I saw the gentleman at the garage. I felt so much guilt for feeling all those things because there are people out there that really have nothing, not even a plastic spoon. The sad thing is nobody seems to care. They just walk passed him and they carry on with their lives. I honestly believe that it is why we live in the darkest age of all time.

If you can, help one person. Just one person, buy a loaf of bread and some milk and that way you know that person will have something to sustain them for at least three days. This post is not to glorify what I did but I wanted to share the story in the hopes that someone somewhere will change their minds about the homeless.

Donating and decluttering your home can also make a difference to your mental health and can also benefit a struggling family. If you have doubts about helping someone then don't, but if your heart is pulling you in that direction then please help where you can.

We take our lives for granted every day, we complain and we grovel in self pity not knowing what the real world is really about. The ugliness that exists is groundbreaking and unbelievable. I believe in the circle of life that what goes around comes around so if you do good, goodness will ultimately find you and make you see how fortunate you really are.

We are entitled to bad days, but we don't live there simply because we don't grow there. It's time we appreciate what we have before it becomes things we had in this lifetime.

I hope I was able to make you see that this little life of ours is not so bad. We have good and bad days, but the luxuries we have is nothing in comparison to what I fellow popular goes through. Buy a loaf off bread for a random stranger. If a granny is short by R2 for her groceries offer to pay it for her.

If you can read this, it means you have a smartphone and data. It means you are able and capable of helping another human being because at the end of the day we all are the same, we just look different on the outside and was dealt different cards in life.

When you help someone, it's a ripple effect. You end up helping another and another and by the time you know if - your blessings will increase...

I hope I was able to change your mind and give you a different perspective on life so you can see that our lives are not as bad as we think....

Till next time...