Today was a life-changing day for me. I have a story about it, and personally I think it is well worth the read. Today, a friend and I went to a nature reserve, and we were walking around, smoking bowls, enjoying the view. The reserve is a series of paths, and it is easy to get lost. We came to an opening, which turned out to be a giant valley, and we were overlooking it. It was luscious, beautiful, amazing. We see a bench, and see that someone is laying down on it. It was a middle-aged black man, just laying there. Me and my friend are teenage white kids. We nod at the man laying down, and he says "Ay, y'all feelin' aight?" I said yeah, and realized he could tell that we were high. He said "have a seat, here" and slid over to make room for us. When I sat next to him, i realized he was most likely homeless. He was wearing ripped, old clothes. He was unshaven, and had a very worn-out look to him. I started to pack a bowl, and after smoking a bit with him, he started talking. It turns out that this homeless guy who looks like he would be the type of guy to not be very smart, is one of the wisest people I've met it my life. He starts talking about racism, and tells us so many stories about all the shit he's been through. He tells us that he doesn't care who we are; what our race is, our age, gender, or what we do with our lives. He said this: "Man, do whatever the fuck makes you happy. You know? This is coming from a guy who spent too many years tryna fit in with the wrong crowd, the gangstas who go off and steal shit and sell drugs. I spent so many years of my life doing that. Until I realized I wasn't doing it for me, I was doing it for my appearance, and those are two completely different things. All the other kids selling drugs, they ain't like it, they be doing it for appearance. I just wish i could make em realize that. You just gotta do you. I ain't tryna be the one to tell you to disobey your parents, that ain't it, but you gotta stop living up to their fucking expectations. Everyone, including yourself, expects something outta you. There's only one person's expectation that you need to fulfill, and that's you man. That's you. You need to set high expectations for yourself, and fucking fulfill them." To this, i asked him, what is his self expectation, because I was starting to realize I didn't have one for myself. He said "Mine? My self expectation is to be true, be happy, and peaceful. I look at you, and if I want to let my vision become distorted by society, then I'll see a white boy who probably steals 20's from his rich parents wallets. But I don't judge you like that man. You can look at me, and think that I'm a no-good dirty nigger who steals shit and is homeless and broke. But if you choose to not be distorted by society, then you won't see it. You know what you'll see? Yourself. The truest people are the people who see themselves in other people. Man I don't even know you, I just met you randomly, but I see myself in you. I see a young guy just trying to have a good time, that's the bit of me I see in you. I see that everywhere, just walking up the street. Of course, people cross the street when I'm comin' up the sidewalk, but I still see myself in those people. They just haven't woken up yet, haven't realized some things that every person needs to realize." I was mind-blown; just completely shocked at how much this conversation had just changed my view on life. I was pretty quiet the rest of the day, thinking of alot of things, about judgement, prejudice, and expectations of others. Really made me think about how everyone's just trying, and you can either see it as everyone's failing or everyone's winning. Pretty amazing guy, and just to think, what if I had judged him as a typical homeless drunk, and just walked past him.
Yea, that got to me dude. Definitely a good read, too many people these days that aren't living for themselves.
Until you have "nothing", you dont truly realize what "something" is. Sent from my SGH-I337M using Grasscity Forum mobile app
good stuff man, its not often that you have a deep philosophical discussion with a stranger, and a homeless dude at that. coming from two opposite sides of life made this story all the better, ill smoke to that.
that was an awesome read. does sound like a mind-blowing experience man, I would've been thrilled to do that.
That's awesome man. The wisest people don't need the material distractions to be happy, and that guy definitely knows what he wants in life.
Thats crazy man. I've met a homeless man kinda like that aswell, he wasn't very bright per say, but his way of thinking was. I still see him from time to time, he used to supply my crew with weed that he sold out of his underwear. He's still on the streets and goes day to day without any complaints or worries. He lives in a tent in the woods and doesn't complain. He sets goals that he confidently says he will achieve, small goals like getting a license, GED, or place to stay. He's been saying those goals for over 3 years I've known him and hasn't taken any steps to get there, but it's his attitude that makes him.
Looks like that homeless man went through a lot of experiences in life, learned a lot of things along the way. His life was probably put in a different perspective (sorry I don't know how to spell that word). I couldn't imagine being homeless, but I know it has to be a terrible feeling inside, like you've given up on yourself and that your good days in life are over. Scary feeling, wouldn't want to ever be in that position. Nice story, OP
I like this homeless man. And it's true.. Society has everyone brainwashed. Society has you controlled since the day you are concious. Society makes us believe that school is normal, all they make you believe their definition of "beauty", that everything the government makes you do Is normal, and most other every day "normal" things, but it's not. This isint the way life should be. People don't realize that they are under their control. People don't realize what life truly is...
you would be surprised of how many intelligent people are on the streets due to some sort of addictions. Funny thing is, since they have been on the street so much they would know the world better than most people.
See, the main point of the story was good- To follow your own expectations and follow your own dreams, not others- But the example the advice is portrayed through (a homeless man) makes it lose credibility. It seems he used the advice as a cop out for his situation in life- Not at all to say its not good advice though OP
It just seems like a pretty convenient excuse for this particular homeless man to explain his situation by saying "Yah, I just always just did what made me happy" as in, "yah it aint no big deal that i'm homeless, as long as your happy" - which In this case I would say that is a bad example of following your own goals and dreams- unless you really want to do nothing and be a loser.