Looking back on last year's resolutions I didn't do too well. To be honest, looking back at the past 3 years of resolutions since I started keeping track I've done a pretty poor job of sticking to them. I'm averaging about a 33% follow-through rate. This year I'd like to get that number up and with that in mind I thought it would help if I publicly posted my resolutions on the blog. Here they are:
I like logic. Lots of people follow their hearts, I try to follow my mind. I try not to get too emotional when I make decisions. Sometimes that bothers people (mostly my wife) but overall I think its helped me make good choices.
One thing I don't get emotional about is a firm policy I have of not giving money to beggars. I just don't do it, I never have. I think most people give to beggars because emotionally they think its helping and it makes them feel like they're doing something good. Its a harsh metaphor but I've always thought of it the same way as giving food to wild animals - It teaches them to rely on it. I've always thought giving money to beggars actually pushes them farther away from a solution to their problems than closer to it. This is obviously a huge generalization, some people just need a little hand out to get back on their feet but my logical mind tells me those are the few and its better to just not give handouts to anyone on the street. To push it a step further, in the past I've even mentally scolded people I've seen giving money to beggars. I saw them as part of the problem instead of part of the solution. I know I'm not alone, many people feel the same. Logically I tell myself, "If NO ONE gives to beggars there won't be any beggars!" There wouldn't be a point to begging and people on the street would have to find real solutions for their problems instead of requesting handouts. I realize this is a cold, hard way of looking a the situation but logically it seems to make sense. The other day however a novel idea popped into my head, "What if EVERYONE gave to beggars?" What if every single time anyone saw another human being begin to get on their knees they did their utmost to help that person get back on their feet. What if there was so much compassion and caring for others in the world that it was almost impossible to notice a beggar on the street because as soon someone started asking for money everyone stopped to help them out. Would it be possible to be a beggar if everyone who passed you on the street did their utmost to help you out? Not for long I wouldn't think. So now logically I have an issue as it seems I've come up with two polar ways to solve the begging dilemma. A) complete disregard B) absolute compassion. And so I ask myself which world would I rather live in? One where no one seems to give a shit, or one where everyone cares so much they'd never leave a person lying on the street to their own devices? And so I ask myself, which solution do I want to be a part of? That's why I'm considering a dramatic shift in my policy. What's your policy?
First real day of quad-ding with my new (to me) Banshee and it appears you need to slow down as you approach the top of a hill... just in-case you unsuspectingly launch off a lip and into a pond!
Jordan Visco