I recently came across a sociological experiment that really made me think. In this experiment, a young girl stood alone on the sidewalk, dressed nicely.
When people saw her, they stopped to ask if she needed help or where her parents were. But when the same girl stood in the same spot with dirty, tattered clothes, most people walked right past her without a second glance. Those who did notice looked at her with disdain.
This experiment highlights a sad reality in today’s world. It makes you wonder, “When did we become a society that judges people solely by their appearance?” Why does a rich person’s life seem to matter more than a poor person’s?
Thankfully, not everyone has lost their compassion for those who are less fortunate. There are still people who care, giving us hope that humanity isn’t entirely lost.
Take the story of Casey Fischer, for example. One day, she saw a homeless man collecting change by the side of the road while she was on a break from her classes. She decided to stop at Dunkin’ Donuts for coffee and noticed the man came inside too, probably to buy something to eat.
As Casey got closer, she saw the man had barely a dollar in change. Feeling compelled to help, she invited him to join her and offered to pay for his bagel and coffee. The man introduced himself as Chris and shared his story with Casey.
Chris told her he was often treated badly simply because he was homeless. He admitted his struggles with drug addiction had turned him into someone he didn’t like. All he wanted was to be the person his late mother would have been proud of, but he just couldn’t seem to get there.
Casey listened and then told Chris she was happy to meet him, but she needed to get back to class. As she was about to leave, Chris asked her to wait a moment. He scribbled something on a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to her.
When Casey opened the note, she was shocked. She had no idea her small act of kindness would have such a huge impact. The note read: “I wanted to kill myself today. I no longer do as a result of you. I’m grateful, lovely individual.”
Casey’s kindness had changed Chris’s life.
We should all be grateful for people like Casey. The world needs more of us to show compassion and kindness to those in need.
Please share this story with your friends and family. Let’s spread the message that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
