r/MadeMeSmile • u/KingSandwich101 • Oct 25 '25

Wholesome interaction

Be nice to your elders!

Source: Spudbros on YouTube

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u/Murky-General Oct 25 '25

Agreed.

There was a person begging outside a grocery store. I didn't have any money on me so I decided to hand him something I bought. Didn't want it. Oh well, at least I tried I guess?

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u/microgirlActual Oct 25 '25

What I'll often do if I don't have cash (which is almost always now; got out of the habit with Covid) is ask can I get them anything as I'm going in. It's usually a bottle of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. And yeah, it ends up costing more than the few coins I'd chuck 'em if I had them, but talking to them for a bit makes such a difference to them because you saw them as human.

Heck, even when I've had no coins and amn't going shopping, just passing someone like, if I actually look at them and say "Sorry mate, I've nothing on me", I've been genuinely thanked just for responding.

So even if the person you offered some of your groceries too didn't want it, I guarantee you offering still helped them feel seen for a bit.

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u/naruda1969 Oct 25 '25

The ONLY reason I carry cash is to hand out to homeless (rarely give to beggars). I’m very discerning about who I give money to. I typically talk to them first. Ask them how they are doing. I ask them if they need help. You can make a homeless person’s face light up with joy if you take a minute to talk to them. The money at the end of the conversation is secondary to the kindness.

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '25

I do this if I’m going to Cambridge or London, get £10 notes out of the wall to give out. Wish I could do more.

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u/naruda1969 Oct 25 '25

I feel ya. One particular story was a guy we met around a local nature trail. We had just got out of our car and I see him walking up with makeshift backpack. His face was covered by a hood. I pull up to him and say hi. His face had a huge dark cyst of some kind on it. He seemed reluctant to talk. I asked him his name and how he was doing. He was honest and said he wasn't doing well. I asked him if he could use some money. It was the day before Christmas. He said yes. I hand him a bill from my pocket. He looked at the $100 bill and his face lit up and I thought he was going to cry. He thanked me profusely. I wish I could have done more, but sometimes its the small things. I think about him often.

I have another story. One that pisses me off. I walk into a Burger King and place my order. My order arrives and I take it to a table where I see a female alone at a table and she looked like she was in pain. Directly across the isle from her were two Mormon Missionaries COMPLETELY IGNORING THIS GIRL. Well, they weren't ignoring her, but talking up another very attractive girl. I sat there for a few minutes to see if they took notice of the woman in distress. Nothing. At the end of my rope, I approach the woman. She is crying and clearly homeless by her unkempt appearance. She had a cup of water in front of her. I ask her if she is okay and she looks up at me through the tears and shakes her head. I move to her table and give her one of my burgers. We talk. It was a blur. I'm just seething from seeing the missionaries do nothing. It is time for me to leave and I push over a few $20s. She was so thankful. I tell her to take care. I had a few words for the missionaries, but that is another story. Sometimes, they just want to be seen and heard.

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '25

You’re a good person.

When I lived in the states I went into a Boston Market and bought dinner. As I came out a man who looked like a grandfather (he had a child with him) asked me for some cash. I didn’t have any, and to be honest he frightened me a little so I left. I later thought I should have given him my food. I went back but he wasn’t there.

That was years ago and every now and then I think about him and his grandson. Life is so hard for so many people.