The Knock-About Life

Living in Atlanta, I have grown accustomed to strangers approaching me. Generally, they want money or food or my phone number, but ever so rarely, you meet a kind soul who simply wants to give you something. A poem, a portrait of yourself, some words of wisdom. Today, a frail looking older man hidden behind silver sunglasses with reflective blue lenses, a ragged, plain blue baseball cap and a salt and pepper beard approached me and asked, "Would you like some words of encouragement?" Taken aback by this individual standing in front of me with a red back pack draped across one shoulder and head cocked to one side, holding out a paper with what appeared to be several quotes, i gladly accepted whatever he may consider to be "words of encouragement," thanked him and went back to reading my book on the bench outside.

Very near to me, however, I began to overhear the conversation the man had delved into with one of the other students around me. The paprika red headed boy in a colorfully striped polo shirt had apparently received some words of encouragement before and they were passionately discussing "passing it on."

"I steal from the best," said the man, describing his extensive collection of quotes. The student later told me that he had been given several stacks of these compilations. "I pick out my favorites and pass the rest on," he said.

Handwritten on the back of my first page of words of encouragement is a quote by Roberto Clemente that reads, "Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you're wasting your time on earth."

Later today I was making my trek across downtown Atlanta when I stumbled across the old man sitting in the doorway of an abandoned business. I've seen him here before, but had never accepted his words of encouragement until this day. He handed me another sheet of notebook paper, torn in half, with one quote sprawled across it with the same handwriting of the one I had been given before.

This man takes the time to record these thoughts and inspirations and then hands them out like candy to unassuming pedestrians. It appears to be the only thing he passes his time with and is happier and more influential in my own life than that of a person working in pursuit of their own successes. And by own successes I mean money. Selfless gratitude is possible. Those of us who choose to personify it shine far brighter than the rest.