The first account was of a homeless man in England who was begging on a street late one night. A successful businessman, on leaving a restaurant after an extravagant dinner, saw the man and chose to stop and chat with him rather than simply walk past. He was impressed with what he was told and so, as well as giving him £20 for a meal, the businessman offered the man a job at his factory and posted his actions on social media. A second post three days later showed the man being greeted at work and saying that it would turn his life around. In addition, a Crowdfunding appeal raised enough money to enable the man to find a home.
The second story took place in Alabama, USA, and was about a man who had been offered a job by Bellhops, a removal company, after being unemployed for a long time. Unfortunately, the man's car had broken down and the only way that he could reach his place of work by 8.00am was to walk 20 miles overnight. No doubt he looked suspicious, because he was picked up by the police who checked his story, gave him an early breakfast and delivered him to work. His new boss was so impressed with the man's efforts that he ended up giving him the keys to his 2014 Ford Escape. Someone who heard about the man also started a Crowdfunding appeal which raised a few thousand dollars. I was impressed by a quote from the excited man. 'Nothing is impossible unless you make it impossible', he said.
For me, the articles demonstrate how an act of kindness can change a person's fortunes and how the public can react by helping someone less fortunate when an effort is shown. The world doesn't owe us a living, but sometimes misfortune means that a person will find it difficult to cope, and a helping hand will make all the difference. When someone is in a position to be kind to others, it may appear to be a small gesture on their part, yet can make a tremendous impact on the recipient's life. Crowdfunding also gives the opportunity for many people to donate small amounts to a cause that they feel worthwhile and, when added together, can be sizeable.
Even when a person is in need and offered help, they don't always respond in a positive way. Some will openly shun the offer; others may take advantage for short-term gain and be untrustworthy, possibly because of a history of drugs, drink or mental problems. It's a leap of faith when a kind person offers a homeless person the chance to better themselves, or offers work to a long-term unemployed person. When the action is successful it makes good news, maybe because the chances of failure are so high. There are norms for a person to fit into society and the pressures can make that difficult to comply with.
To turn one's life around after a serious setback takes massive willpower and determination; those who manage it deserve praise. When we read about such a story, it's impossible to truly imagine how deep and beneficial the affect could be on the individual.