It was an early start to what I knew was going to be a fatiguing day, so I psyched myself up and left off from the boat early, and headed for a 20-minute walk to the bus stop. I always give leeway for no-show buses, to avoid stress, as I like to proceed in an urgent, but calm manner.
I had just over 5 hours to kill, so I popped into a few cafés and coffee shops, but as usual, I delayed placing my order by first testing the reliability of their free Wi-Fi, while I pretended to contemplate what to eat. They were all fancy cafes with nice chairs and decor, however, I had a craving for a Steak Bake from my favourite place, Greggs, where the food is quick and easy, and consistently good.
The latte was of superior quality, with a rich creamy texture and strong aroma so I didn't even mind drinking from a paper cup.
A nice cup of coffee and a hot Steak Bake fresh from the oven is my guilty pleasure. If I'm ever in town and need a quick bite, I always opt for Greggs...I'm obsessed with their Steak Bake, because of its similarity to a Jamaica Patty.
It's divine:)
I could honestly say that spending time at Greggs is one of my favourite pastimes.
Another of my favourite pastimes is interacting and engaging in conversations with homeless people along the streets.
I believe a little compassion goes a long way, and I enjoy doing random acts of kindness that might brighten the least expecting person's day, without me expecting anything in return.
I've always taken pride in treating everyone as equal no matter their circumstances or their appearance. No one should be left to feel like a lesser human being, and conversations can break barriers.
So, I sat on a bench across from a scruffy male, in his mid-thirties, who had a unique style of begging, like a repeated rehearsed chant.
[In a loudspeaker tone, was his quest for money]
"Hello, my name is Stephen, and I am from Germany. I have been sitting here for 2 hours, and not even a penny. Does anyone in Leicester have any money?
"Hello, my name is Stephen, and I am from Germany. If I was in Germany, people would have given me their spare change."
Hello, my name is Stephen, and I am from Germany. I lost my wife and everything. I heard Leicester is kind to homeless people. But no one has given me any money."
There were some remarks from passersby, but no one seemed to give him a second, except for a few "mates" of his, who seemed to be in similar circumstances.
An unusual thing happened. He got up and walked across the street to a garbage bin next to me, and discarded his garbage. He didn't beg me, but I said.
"Hello, would you like a coffee?"
I got the strangest reaction ever: He turned to me and smiled. I smiled back, and soon we both started grinning uncontrollably. He said he was ok.
I prolonged the dialogue:
Me: "Are you really from Germany?" I asked
The Stranger: No, I'm from Leicester, he replied.
Me: So what's the idea behind stating that you're from Germany?
The Stranger: I do it to see what people's responses and reactions would be.
Me: Well, yes! I've heard some responses from people walking by.
He asked my name and I told him, and I asked him, and he told me his real name. Turns out he had a succession of bad events in his life. He said he lost his partner, and his job and a few of his possessions were reclaimed, which took a toll on his mental health.
He said he doesn't have a home anymore, but he visits his mum every so often to clean up. He expressed that it saddens him to go home to his mum in his current state, considering how old his mum is getting and that he doesn't want to cause her any stress.
Throughout our conversation, despite his sorrows, he was a keen listener and displayed traits of empathy. He said he enjoyed the chat with me, and that he was going to visit his mum and have a wash at her place because he had not done so in four days.
We smiled and said goodbyes.
It's strange the things that can turn out to be the highlights of our mundane days. We sometimes feel like we are being suffocated by our neverending problems, however, no matter what challenges I might be facing, I always take solace and try to give, even if it's just a listening ear to someone who might be in the worst situation than me. I gain great fulfillment, and it's a hobby that requires me to give instead of accumulate.
Are there any odd deeds that bring you happiness?
I thank you all for reading. I have been away for a while, but just thought I'd drop by with a little glimpse of my day.
Thank you so much for reading :)