Sights in Karachi are incredible!! We have our own sea view blessing us with glorious horizon, our streets filled with delicacies and aromas, all melodies and fascinating art at cultural sites, carts full of colorful fruits, walls painted with hateful graffiti (Oopss!!) and pathways blocked by small to heavy, all sorts of vehicles. But there's one sight that caught me the most and hurts me equally every time…
Have you every passed by a fuel pump without being interrupted by a beggar? Have you ever walked by a market without seeing someone begging on the floor? Have you ever passed by a traffic signal without being stopped by little kids roaming and begging?
We all have seen such instances and most of us have now turned indifferent to such realities. The fact is, all of us were inculcated with horrifying narratives regarding them; beggar mafia, too lazy to work etc. And now as soon as a beggar approaches us, we make assumptions and refuse to pay them any help. We lie to ourselves!
What makes us judge others before even knowing them? Does wearing a well dress and living a healthy life gives us any right to question their struggles and make assumptions about crippled, destitute, poor and helpless?
We are all unique, our lives are different, our struggles are various, our realities differ yet we try to make it homogenous. We never respond to beggars with empathy! Had it been the case where we were empathetic to them by actually owning and feeling their lifestyle, even our ways of speaking to them would change to a much better tone.
Helping a beggar is not giving away your penny, its actually earning self- respect. You not only decide to spend part of your wealth in helping someone, but you also give yourself a chance to feel what they go through, to make them feel belonging and to win their respect.
You don’t have to spend huge sums to fight your false narratives. It takes more effort than money alone. Make a penny jar today, and keep it with you. Next time whenever a beggar approaches you or you see someone in need, without letting your assumptions and false stories in, just spend some money and see their smile.
Have you ever walked by pathway of empathy? it always blesses you with sights of hope and happiness. A lot more than the money you to give...
Comentarios