This may sound funny to some, but yesterday I walked out to see this on my car (cat footprints) and it made me think of the homeless in our area. You see, the stray cats in our neighborhood can be miserable this time of year because it gets so cold at night – so they will often park themselves on our car when we get home for the heat from the engine. Yet, how many people in our city, or our world for that matter, do not have the option of parking themselves somewhere for warmth?
This is what our neighborhoods have looked like in the past few weeks – treacherous if there is no warm place to lay your head.
And I imagine, if someone is cold and homeless, sometimes the little things, like a bowl of warm soup and a loving person, can make all the difference in the world.
Today, 31 days ’til 40, I am reminded of the homeless in my area and the world, and challenge myself to do more to reach out, and remember how fortunate I am.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
jcmarckx2009
January 21, 2013 at 18:40
This last Christmas, I was poor and could not get any gifts for my son. We still had a home, a car, and family and friends who loved us, so we counted our blessings. I decided that we should volunteer our time that day helping the homeless. At first, I imagined that we would ladle soup into bowls somewhere, but we found a different organization who just wanted us to play our guitars and sing Christmas Carols while they handed out clothes and hot cocoa. It was a wonderful day, and a wonderful lesson that I am glad my son got to learn.
400daystil40
January 21, 2013 at 23:52
Wow, what an amazing story and what a great lesson for your son.
colormusing
January 21, 2013 at 18:49
Thank you for the reminder to not only be grateful, but to act on it!
400daystil40
January 21, 2013 at 23:52
You are welcome!
Long Life Cats and Dogs
January 21, 2013 at 19:36
It’s a real challenge here in South Africa where, unfortunately, poverty is abundant. However, if we each do the little bit we can, it can certainly make a big difference.
400daystil40
January 21, 2013 at 23:51
Yes, I have visited South Africa (though that is not the same as living there) – but I definitely understand – the pressure there must be vast.
Toni
January 21, 2013 at 22:41
That is great! Not only are there many homeless animals, but SO many homeless people. I wish we could find a way to help them all. One step at a time, I guess.
400daystil40
January 21, 2013 at 23:47
Me too,and yes, every step helps!
Noora
January 21, 2013 at 22:57
I used to avoid even looking at the homeless people. I don’t know if it was fear or guilt. Recently I have started to say good morning to the one man with a dog who I walk pass every morning. I give them a smile, instead of looking the other other way as I used to.
400daystil40
January 21, 2013 at 23:47
I can so relate to this comment.
Another Thousand Words
January 22, 2013 at 04:08
At the least, even a smile or a kind word will warm a homeless person…some just need to talk, sometimes. When we give to others (of ourselves), the return is worth more than the finest gold…and ‘giving’ does not have to be ‘monetary giving’…time and an ear (and some food/clothing, perhaps) can be much more beneficial for both parties.
400daystil40
January 22, 2013 at 20:46
Yes, definitely!
Another Thousand Words
January 23, 2013 at 04:08
And…I didn’t need a ‘degree’ to figure that out! Funny how it goes, isn’t it?
Spider42
January 22, 2013 at 09:07
A worthy thought and outlook.
We as a species have grown more and more apathetic – not because we are evil but because the world can be such a harsh place at times that we need to have on blinders (metaphorically speaking! 🙂 ) sometimes so that it doesn’t get to us. Myself included.
The thing I realised was that the key was to protect yourself and your loved ones – they are justifiably your priority – but while you might choose to ignore, help if you can and be afraid the day it stops bothering you. Until then, it will get to you sooner or later and every once in a while you will do something to help someone and that may not be much but it’s something… and a whole lot of somethings go a long way.
400daystil40
January 22, 2013 at 20:42
Yes, so very true!!!
Lucianus Mauricius
January 28, 2013 at 06:02
It is very interesting you wrote this post many days ago and I just read it a day after I saw a homeless woman sleeping on the sidewalk of a very busy street in my city. I noticed her only after she was approached by two cops to see if she was alive or not. The way it was done was an absolute aberration. Since I was on the bus and I couldn’t hear what they were saying, I was paying very close attention to their moves. They approached this woman and one of them tapped her with his foot so to see if she would move or not. After she must have given a sing she was merely exhausted, the two cops smiled as if it were a joke. It was disgusting to see their smirks. It was absolutely disgusting. This lady tried to stand up, but she kept leaning on one arm, and than she fell again on the ground face first.
She seemed so exhausted she couldn’t even get up.
My city has no hostels for homeless people, not even churches give or do anything for them, so the only means they have to survive is to look into dumpsters for food and other necessary things in order to survive. Most of them sleep on sidewalks or abandoned, derelict buildings. I see them at night, and during the day. Most of them seem to have mental problems and I believe that’s why they have been abandoned to their own fate by family members or the medical establishment. These people need medical care for their mental problems, the same way I do seek care of a psychiatrist and psychologist, but I can afford them and these people cannot. So they roam the streets searching for their next meal out of a dumpster.
It is absolutely frightening to me to see such individuals go through life like that. It would be so much easier to end it all, yet I will never for the life of me understand why they keep on going like that? Is the need/force for survival so strong as to overcome any psychological shortcomings they might have?
400daystil40
January 28, 2013 at 23:43
Wow, thank you so much for your post! I can really relate to you and I agree with you that it is indeed quite frightening… where is our world headed???
Lucianus Mauricius
January 29, 2013 at 04:16
I don’t know, but I’ve often had a really deep fear I myself could end up one day like the woman I saw…