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Story time! In summer 2019, I knew I was moving to Provo but couldn't afford it. I was barely staying afloat as it was, never mind moving costs. I didn't know what I was going to do. A close friend helped me accept that I *couldn't* do it without help.
So I swallowed my pride and reached out to a handful of friends who I thought might be in a position to help. I explained my dire situation and threw myself on the mercy of the court. They helped, of course. Within a couple of days I had enough for the move with some to spare.
It was humbling but also very touching to know that I was cared for. Even those who couldn't give much wished they could. One offered to drive to Portland with his truck and help me move. It was SUCH A RELIEF to have these monetary needs taken care of at a stressful time.
A day or two later, I saw a guy at an intersection asking for money. His cardboard sign said:
WE ALL NEED
A LITTLE HELP
SOMETIMES
I burst into tears and gave him $20 (which was all I had on me; good thing, as I might have given him my entire moving fund otherwise).
WE ALL NEED
A LITTLE HELP
SOMETIMES
I burst into tears and gave him $20 (which was all I had on me; good thing, as I might have given him my entire moving fund otherwise).
His sign hit me like a ton of bricks. WE ALL NEED A LITTLE HELP SOMETIMES. Even me, Eric D. Snider! And what happened when I needed help? People gave it! There's no shame in needing help, financial or otherwise. Nobody gets through this life by themselves, at least happily.
So with the help of my friends, I moved to Provo, intending to keep freelancing/being poor — and immediately fell accidentally into a steady, full-time, grown-up job with a salary that could support a small family but only has to support me and Dogcat (whose tastes are spartan).
My friends helped me move; moving enabled me to get the job; getting the job put me in a position to pay it forward.
To receive a chunk of good fortune on top of all THAT and not share it with people who actually need it would be obscene. Like, an actual sin.
To receive a chunk of good fortune on top of all THAT and not share it with people who actually need it would be obscene. Like, an actual sin.
In summary: I've been incredibly fortunate to have good friends and good luck, and I'd be tempting fate (or Whoever) if I didn't have the humility and common decency to acknowledge that.
And I truly don't know why rich people don't go around all day every day giving money to people who need it more than they do, because it FEELS GREAT. Those rich people are chumps. The end.
