A few weekends ago I visited the infamous Sixth Street located in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas. On my visit, I conversed with many homeless locals who call Sixth Street home and picked their brains about their life journeys and stories.
I asked them three questions:
1) What is your main concern each day that you wake up?
2) What's the biggest insight or aha moment you've had in being homeless?
3) What do you regret the most?
I noticed a few common themes emerge from the people I spoke with including: gratitude, humility and selflessness. I was taken back to hear the thoughtful responses that the men and women shared and optimism that was expressed given their circumstance.
I had preconceived answers in my mind to the questions I asked only to be completely incorrect. The people I spoke with were concerned with ensuring those around them were having a good day by making them smile or laugh instead of worrying about where their next meal was coming from or where they would sleep for the night.
The most impactful message I took from my conversations was that being in a position where you are stripped of everything doesn't make you poor or disadvantaged. In fact, it can provide a different lens to view life and source of motivation to be creative to make the most with what you have in order to continue to improve in becoming a better humanitarian to society.
Like Charless Swindoll once said, "Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it."
This quote stands true not only for the people I had the opportunity to speak with but also for everyone no matter where you are at in life.
Take time to reflect and be thoughtful in how you choose to react to what happens to you in your life journey because money isn't everything, perspective is.
I recently began volunteering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes in Austin,Texas which operates 365 days a year to serve the homeless by delivering food, clothing, hygiene products, and other life-sustaining items where needed most. I encourage you to find ways to get involved in your respective communities and help those in need however you are able to.