Mindfulness Daily Check-In October 11, 2019
Happy Friday again everyone 
Today I like to invite you to join me in a compassion exercise.
Sit down in a quiet place, breathe in and out deeply for a few time.
Now imagine you would be a begger sitting at the roadside begging for a few dollars to be able to buy a bottle of water and some food. You have nowhere to go, you have only the few belongings next to you.
You see people passing, looking to the other side when they see you or even looking down at you in disgust, in worst case scenario making hurting comments about your presence, maybe even saying you destroy the beautiful image of that particular part of the city just because you are there, not as clean as them, not as well dressed as them and not having any money.
You sit, most of them are looking down on you.
How would you feel about the world around you, about your place in the world?
Now look around you, how much do you have to be grateful for, a bed to sleep in? food to eat? clean water to drink? Try to pay gratitude to 10 things around you.
There are many reasons why people can get into these situations and for many of these reasons everyone of us can get in there too.
I would like to ask you, next time you see a begger sitting at the roadside and you feel comfortable in approaching the person give them a dollar (if you can), a smile, ask them How are you today? or something similar, maybe even address to them as Sir, can I get you a water or something to eat.
I hope that some of you will join me and look forward to your comments on this site. 
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@amiablePeace77
I have many thoughts about the subject you opened for discussion.
I found myself in the same situation and still am. The feeling for them is that they are caged in their life and not free to discern higher things...bottled in their own little cosy worlds. I asked one lady for a cigarette and she was reaching in her purse to get out money. I smiled, her husband smiled and I told her again, I just wondered if you could spare a cigarette, I did not ask for any of ypur money. Her husband smiled...she was so wound up she did not even listen to what I've said...
I slept on a bench and was attacked and many other things...
Yet, I have a masters degree at Sorbonne I in Paris 😉 and worked for two multinationals till I got fed up...😊 working for people who were much less educated than me earning 5 times what I earned.
I have many stories in my life with genuine beggars:
In Paris I met the wolf people under the bridges. First, I thought they were stories, then I saw them with my own eyes, each one of them with his/her dog(wolf) at their sides. One day when I walked past one of them I wanted to give him money. He looked at me and he said: just buy us some food...I went and bought hotdogs a few paces away and the man broke them in two and gave half to his dog and thanked me...they were calm and content and very nice...
Another time a kid asked me for money and I was angry and upset and told him: "hey kid, who is giving me any money, ay?" and he reached in his pocket, brought out a coin and sid here mister, I give you money if you need it!
The same happened with cigarettes...I was asking for cigarettes and people were rude shoving me away and tgen from far behind I heard a child's voice...hey mister, come here, I'll give you a cigarette, must have been a 12 years old boy...
When I was depressed on a bench a young disrressed lady came to me saying she needed money to pay bribe for her train ride home from colkege. I asked her if she took me for a fool and if I had the fave of a victim? Even if it was a coning scheme I told her this: "what is the full price of your train ticket? She told me. I gave her the money telling her now you can ride with a full ticket home"
I saw a 50+woman on the street, she was so distraught and in genuine tears and despair (I can make the difference between acting)...she clung to me, told me desperately, please, they took my home, they took my home, I have no home...I saw dispair and utter fear in her wide eyes...my heart broke knowing I coukd do nothing to help that woman and she begged and implored me...and her image will haunt me my whole life...what happened to her, poor soul...
So yes, blessed be the beggar wolf people of Paris under the bridges...blessed be you who have it fine
1. I live
2. I think
3. I feel
4. I love.
5. I have imagination
6. I have food
7. I have a bed
8. I have warmth of my blanket
9. I have my pride
10. I have no time
@feelitinyourbones This was a really good exercise wasn't it?! There are so many things to be thankful for! I really like the ones you chose! Have a beautiful day!
@lavenderpeach1107
Thank you for your thread 🤗😊
@feelitinyourbones
*For the answer 😊
@feelitinyourbones
You have seen it all, it makes my heart cry how much pain and struggle some people have to go through, so sorry that you are one of them. It's amazing how people like you are grateful for things we really need to be grateful for and those who have everything don't understand the value of it. You seem to be very strong and despite what life threw in your way still kept a loving heart for others too. Thank you for sharing your story.
I like to say to people who look down on beggers: "We all can get there very fast, all of us".
I do hope that there are ways you can get social support from.
Thank you for being so open, you have my greatest respect.
@amiablePeace77
And you always have my heart🤗hugsiez all of you...even when you hit rock bottom, you still live and feel amd love and appreciate...
Kind words that I thank you for...😊🤗
@feelitinyourbones
HUGS
@amiablePeace77
🤗😊hugsiez😶...
@amiablePeace77
I like the pic you chose so well...
@amiablePeace77 Beautiful exercise!! I imagined I was the begger and the feeling I got from everyone looking down on me was shame and disgust with myself... Those are not good feelings to have.
I am grateful for the following-
*My laptop so I can come on 7 cups *Jazz music playing on my TV *Raspberry leaf tea *Lotion and essential oils
*Clean clothes *My bed *My cooling pillow *My anxiety blanket *A place to take a shower *My facial products
@baylinAnderson123
For us it is imagination, for them it is real life. Thank you for participating in this exercise and those are truly great things to be thankful for.
@amiablePeace77 I love what you said... for us it's imagination but for them it is real life... very powerful words. It just makes me feel so much more grateful for my beautiful life and I am going to make more of an effort to help them when I can.
@amiablePeace77
HI Peace wow this made me really sit down and think. Like really think. I have been on both sides of this. When I see homeless out there, it can be both ways: I help them or I don't. As we have many homeless out and about and some abuse the situation. I have blessed people with money and then saw them take off to get beer and smokes when they shared they really are hungry. So now I get them hot food. If I see a mother out there I buy food or pampers or something. Something small for the kids as well. If pets are out there I get them dog treats and pockets of dog food so its not to heavy to carry.
I have much compassion for these folks and do understand most of the times why they are out there. I try my best to help. I am very blessed for my house and my things I have. For all my food and animals. I have tons of belongings and I donate them to a food bank so people can get what they need for free. Thank you Ami for this very thoughtful check in
@RumpleSteeleSkin
I am glad you are out of that situation and made yourself a better life. I believe once we have been there, we really understand what it mean. I was fortunate to not having been in such a situation but everytime I see them on the street, the real beggers not the "professional" ones, it's like a cut into my heart as if you can feel their shame. To me it is like our societies absuses them emotionally, not everyone of course, but lots of people do and this needs to stop.
@amiablePeace77 I have many many thoughts about being the begger. I would feel hopeless and dirty and probably asahmed with myself that I let myself get to that place. I am sure that this how others who have to beg feel too. My heart really goes out to them. I've made it a point to help when I can and give money to them. It's really heartbreaking when you think about it. I hate having to see people without food or shelter or just the basics of life.
I am very grateful for the following: My husband, my boys, my animals, jazz music, a bed to sleep in, clean clothes for my family, food in our fridge, a TV to watch, toiletries for the bathroom, and I am just really grateful for my whole life. I've been blessed in ways I don't deserve and I am going to take this humility with me through the rest of my weekend! Truly an amazing post this week!
@lavenderpeach1107
I think you deserve your blessings because you realize one cannot just take them for granted but be grateful for them.
We all can only do what we can but if everyone just helps a bit, at the end we will be able to help lots of people and even if it is just with a smile, saying something nice to help them not feeling cut out of society.
@amiablePeace77 Thank you so much for saying that! And I agree with you... If we all just did a little bit of positive work everyday, it's amazing what we would be able to accomplish!
@lavenderpeach1107
so true lavender, spread love and kindness