Be kind. (to everyone)

Last month on my way to work I was approached by a dude (Mr. X) who gave me a "speech" that his Mom was sick in Toronto with cancer, and he made his way from Barrie to see her, despite the fact that his wallet was depleted.

Now, I'd do anything for family, as I thought this guy was doing, so when he kindly asked of me to purchase a GO Ticket for him, I thought the least I could do was help out.

I told him we'll head back and grab a ticket, then he said he didn't leave until after midnight, and if we got it now, the ticket would become void, leaving him stranded yet again and my wallet 14 dollars lighter for nothing. Right there, I should have said, "Sorry bro, that's the best I can do", but I let naivety get the best of me that evening and forked the money over, along with some additional cash for a cuppa coffee. Am I a saint for performing this act? Hardly. In fact some could argue that I am walked a fine line, falling more towards the side of "grade-A sucker". The hot dog vendor whom I purchased a, you guessed it, hot dog from then asked me if I knew that guy. I told him no and he gave me the impression that he was a scammer. Ah, I still gave him the benefit of the doubt the best I could, yet still couldn't shake the thought of being potentially "bamboozled".

There is a homeless man (Mr. Y) I always saw when I worked days. Every so often I would wear a shirt from the flick 28 days later saying "infected." This particular gentleman was enamored with this tee and every time I walked by him he would always ask me why I wasn't wearing it. Very friendly and I had no problem freeing up some of my change for this dude.

This past Monday Mr. X approached me again and recognized me and asked again if I could help him. This time I had to say no and my suspicions were confirmed when I say Y and he said X does this all the time and is only nice when people give him money.

I told Y he was one of the nicest people I have met, and he said something that stuck with me, "I don't pick and choose who I say 'God Bless You' to."