This is a story about my partner, Cheta Urmila. We live in Andalucia, Spain where there is a great deal of poverty. The weather is warm, life is cheap but still there is poverty.
Cheta went shopping to a supermarket in Vera, a local town. To get into the supermarket she had to pass a woman begging for money. She was middle aged, Spanish and looked in need.
Begging is fairly common here but is usually genuine. I have become hardened to begging having lived in London, UK, for many years, with their professional beggars.
Cheta is more compassionate but believes that something more than money is necessary.
When she left the supermarket she felt compelled to give something lasting to the woman. She went up to her and gave her a five euro note, much to the woman’s surprise. Then she really surprised her by taking hold of her hands and looking directly into her eyes.
Cheta spoke to her lovingly with her words and her eyes. She told her that she was important and that she was important in this world. The woman just gazed back trying to absorb the emotion that she normally didn’t experience.
As Cheta drove away she looked over and saw a man with the woman talking animatedly and looking at the money. But what really made an impression was the look from the woman’s eyes, the look of genuine gratitude and love.
Beggars are often made to feel like outcasts from society, even by people who give them money. Let’s all take a leaf out of Cheta’s book and show them some love.
Telling this reminds me of a story told by Tony Robbin’s Business Manager.
He met a beggar outside a Manhattan restaurant. The beggar asked him for some money. He asked how much did he want. The beggar thought for a moment and asked for ten dollars. The man pulled out a money roll, peeled off ten dollars and gave it to him. He then told the beggar that if he’d asked for 100 dollars he would have given him that.
Remember to ask for what you really want and don’t downgrade yourself just because you are in need.
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Editor’s Note: This story comes, word-for-word, from Graham Phoenix of Male eXperience. It acknowledges Cheta Urmila of Female eXperience for her tender act of greatness on the streets of Andalucia, Spain.
The bitter-sweet realities of this story are what I enjoy most because they’re real, emotional, and unavoidable. Making a difference in this world, however large or small, requires us to see both the light and the dark. And how wonderful it is that we can inspire a life with merely a gentle touch and loving words.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
this is a really difficult situation for a lot of people. we are conditioned to believe that many beggars have chosen to live this way (like you said, professional beggars) or that they will use whatever money you give them for alcohol or drugs. maybe sometimes we just need to believe that they will do something good with whatever you give them instead of being the judges. hmm…food for thought….
Certainly food for thought. Very well said.
I think looking at people and situations with a glass-half-full view is a good and healthy thing. It certainly isn’t easy. But we’re not helping matters if we immediately jump to negative conclusions.
Thanks for another great comment
Matt