I used to live selfishly: all my
decisions were made putting my own needs and wants as the first
consideration. It seems rather corny to say that one moment changed my
life, but I honestly feel that it did have a huge impact on me.
I was on my lunch break and had left the office to get something to
eat. On the way, I saw a busker. This wasn’t something out of the
ordinary; there was always someone smart enough to busk near the office
buildings during lunch.
As I walked past him, holding some coins in my hand, I thought to
myself that he was only going to use the money to feed his addiction to
drugs or alcohol. He looked like that type – young and ragged. Then I
stopped, rather shocked at myself. What was I going to spend the money
on? I only was going to feed my addiction to Coca-Cola or chocolate. I
realised I had no right to place myself above him just because he was
busking.
I stopped and dropped all the coins into his hat and he smiled at me.
I watched for a while. As selfish as it sounds, I expected something
more to come from that moment. I wanted a natural high or even a
feeling of happiness, but nothing happened. So then I smiled and
walked off, remembering why I never did things like that. It was a waste
of money.
At the end of the day as I walked to the train station, I saw the
busker packing up. I watched him pick up the hat and empty the money
into a small plastic bag. Then he walked over to a café counter and
poured the entire contents into a tin collecting for a bushfire appeal.
He was busking for charity. I realised just how selfish I had been.
It took someone to take my money and donate it to charity for me to
realise how easy it is for me to do the same. I now donate any change I
have to charity tins and enjoy the feeling of happiness for the rest of
the day. You could say I’m now addicted to the feeling of giving.
~ Amy Taylor ~
(Extract from Reader's Digest)
