BarkTwainWasTaken
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It has been a rough couple of months, looking for a job and living off of very little pay I get from smaller jobs. The 20 was the only thing I had to last me almost a month unless I can do another moving job in two weeks.
Card declined few times, and the kid behind me said, "I got this". I feel bad for even let him pay but I was so flustered and panicked that I didnt think. I asked to pay him back but he said no and went out quickly. I am extremely thankful for him but also embarrassed. A grown man should be able to feed himself, not be fed by a teenager.
A donation link was suggested but I didnt want to add it here so I put it in my bio.
languex
There GO
languex
There are NGOs that will help you. Go to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. If you have a church, go talk to them. I was struggling after losing my job and I went to my Pastor to get some advice. He hooked me up with some charitable organisations. A few days later, he sent me a check to cover my rent. I miss him, we had some wonderful conversations. He left to be closer to his daughter. I volunteered at our church for a couple of years after that.
oldiebutagoodie
I would also wanna feel embarrassed but you shouldn’t. Take the win and rejoice that there are caring people out there. We all struggle and hopefully help someone in a tough spot. I’ve helped raise a kid who would do the same. You have a heavy burden right now and it’s nice someone else can help ease that :)
bigblindguy
I paid for an older gentleman's stuff about 3 weeks ago or so ago? Can't remember. Not the first time I've had to pay for someone else. I used to be homeless and strangers helped me. It happens mate. No shame. No embarrassement. We are all the same. When your brother trips you help him back up, that's why we live in a society.
Cebrail
Being "A grown man" does not magically changes the fortunes and misfortunes of life. We should all look out for each other, young or old.
One day when you are back on your feet, you can pay it forwards yourself.
KellyCrazyCatLadyinTraining
Dude- take the win. I have done the same for a man twice my age when I was in my twenties because I hoped if someone saw my Dad in that situation that they’d help him. Be thankful that the next generation is awesome like that teenager. It’s all good, my dude. *hugs*
Gaylepod
Good luck and wishing you better times ahead
TheLastBootyBender
If you really want to pay the person back, embody them. When you're financially stable do for someone what they did for you, or make a donation to a food bank type of place.
Winman9000
Some dude at AutoZone was on the phone, asking his cousin to help him out the last $9 for brake pads, I originally offered to cover the difference, but after hearing he was paying with two different credit cards I just gave him $50 and let him keep the change. He wanted to pay me back but I told him to pay it forward.
TongueTiedLabourerfromtheLandoftheLittlePeople
That kid:
wabitgirl
As a teen, I did this a couple of times. I was young, dumb, and had money to burn because I worked and lived with my parents. Accept the blessing of a kind soul who was raised right and focus on yourself. there is no need to be ashamed of struggling in a time when every system that was supposed to support and help us has been turned against us. You struggle is shared, but the kindness can be shared too <3
AnonOmis1000
Someone raised that kid right
AestheraValkyrie
If it's any comfort, my husband is constantly confused for a teenager even though he's 30. So maybe the guy wasn't as young as he seemed
JustDriftingAboutTheInterWebs
Time are tough right now. Grown men can have the same problems as anyone else. Everyone has their ups and downs. Don't get to hung up on it. When you can, simply pay it forward to someone else that's struggling.
arajad
This: Pay it forward, when you can afford it and the next person can't. All good people have bad times.
BarkTwainWasTaken
I will for sure
tidepool
I do this when I can because I’ve been in your position. Just pay it forward someday, like someone will or had for him. I tried to pay for a woman in front of me once and the cashier wouldn’t let me. I got so mad I left my stuff on the belt after the other woman fled in tears. Don’t feel bad. Taking care of each other is something that should happen when it’s needed.
oldguyexlurker
When asked about the 1st sign of civilization, Margaret Mead commented that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. A broken bone that had had the necessary time and care to recover. That SOMEONE had cared for and fed another person who would otherwise have perished while they healed. We SHOULD be civilized. I'm glad that teenager was a decent human. Good luck.
nomikos
> A grown man should be able to feed himself, not be fed by a teenager.
Yes - in a *functioning country*. It's not your fault that you don't live in one.
Your luck has been bad, the teenager's luck a little better, and they chose to do the right thing. When your luck changes, you can pay it forward. People looking out for one another is the only way you survive when your government won't do their job.
StrangePaegan
It probably made that teen's day that they could help.
porcinechoirmaster
I just spent a ton of money on something I absolutely do not need. If someone is hungry, that absolutely takes precedence over my wasteful-ass hobby.
billstranger
Warhammer? It's ok, there are support groups you can reach out to........jokes aside, you're right, of course.
porcinechoirmaster
Hah! No, it was cardboard crack. FF MTG set launched on Friday.
Zalm
"A grown man should be able to feed himself, not be fed by a teenager"
Humans are community driven by nature. We live, survive, and thrive by helping fill the gaps where others cannot. We didnt evolve for hundreds of thousands of years relying on each other to let "rugged individualism" cause us to wipe ourselves out in less than 10 generations.
That teen is someone who knows his worth, and more importantly, knows YOUR worth. You are valued, and a stumble doesnt diminish that value you have.
justanotherdrunkcanadian
I get it, it feels so shameful. I had to ask my mom for money the other day to buy some groceries. I’m 40, married (although he’s less than helpful when it comes to finances etc) and have 2 kids. I needed to make lunches. I was honestly debating calling in sick (I am lucky enough to have sick time at my job) and keeping them home as I had nothing to pack them. Roles reversed though I’d do the same for someone in a second.
billstranger
As just another drunk canadian, that sucks. Is there a way people can help? I'm not money-rich, personally, but maybe there are other ways.
justanotherdrunkcanadian
Thank you so much for the offer. I’ll be ok, as shameful as it is to ask my Mom at least I have that option that most people don’t. I really appreciate you though.
billstranger
You're lucky, as I am too, to have family. Many aren't. Don't be ashamed, I bet your mom is standing by, ready and stoked to help. I hope so, anyway. If not, and she helps anyway, then that's still a win.
gumblemuntz
Kid has probably been there himself, or with a parent...
popecrunch
look. we're all lost and fucked up and scared. none of us have any idea what to do. look at it differently. you gave that dude an opportunity to save someone's day. how good do you feel when you can help someone? you gave that to that teenager. silver lining, boo, that's how we're gonna get through this all. I believe in you
putcleverusernamehere
Enjoy your ko-fi ✌️🖖
BarkTwainWasTaken
GBMaker
When our government and other capitalists have taken all they can from us, the only ones left to care for us are each other.
BarkTwainWasTaken
With everything going on around us right now, this might be the truest thing Ive read in a while.
TheFifthTK
Community is what matters. Individualism is how we got here. That kid did the right thing and you did too by accepting it. This wasn’t charity…it’s one human taking care is another…as it should be. Don’t be embarrassed. Just do your best to survive
jemappelletosca
Community orgs that help each other still exist, like Rotary, Elks, Lions, etc. I highly recommend giving them a look.
eventide215
Exactly how we used to thrive through things like medieval ages and such. The whole village, town, etc pulled individual weight to provide for each other. Generally you didn't cook for your family. You went to the tavern to eat because that was the tavern's job where yours was likely farming or smithing. Only in the past like 2-3 generations did we shift from one person in a family working and the other keeping things running to everyone must earn money. Also a reason anxiety is on the rise.
xanthio
We all have moments like this. A time when something goes sideways. It's a good day when someone is there to lend a hand. As you say, it's how it should be.
spiceass9000
Yup. I wanna add, these kids are alright.
myotherusernameisalreadytaken
Don't blame yourself, blame the system for why medical bills don't allow you to buy food.
kahlas
Look at you thinking dental care is considered medical care in the US. It's actually a separate insurance and generally it's very terrible insurance at that. My last job had great health insurance. $200/month premium and a $2,500 max out of pocket per year. My dental insurance was $50/year and covered 1 cleaning per year and 30% of any other dental costs. So I'd need to spend $1,800 in a year for it to make sense to get dental coverage.
glenlochie
Don't hate on yourself, rejoice the fact that there are still young people like this
BarkTwainWasTaken
Yeah you are right, I just got a big reality check when a kid is probably doing better than me
murderonamonkey
No he was raised to be kind and caring. We all can be kind. We need to get back to that
FussyZeus
Or he's just as bad as you are, and you caught him on his particular upswing and he wanted to pay it forward with the hope there'll be someone like him when he needs it.
Apes together strong.
Shortndeadly
Teenagers dont have many bills or anything. I had much more disposable income back in high school working part time than i do now. You shouldnt compare yourself to anyone else. Just try your best to improve yourself if you can.
Taishosama
All of this
CookieMonstersCrumbs
Stop with the comparisons. You met an empathetic soul. Just pay it forward when you can be in the same situation someday.
MadamPuddifoot
This! @op. He as kissy a good soul helping out someone who needed it.
MightyUrto
Not him, his parents. They are just raising right.
2Soon4Baboon
Yeah we all stand together in solidarity.
SomebodythatIusedtonope
@OP post a link where we can help you
BarkTwainWasTaken
I put a link in my bio
EntropyEJ
Humans are social creatures. If some ideology you internalized is telling you that your relying on the society around you is somehow a personal failing, then that ideology is bunk.
Also, that kid got a chance to be a hero in a small way by doing good. They will remember that and do more good in the future than they otherwise would have. The world is a better place now than it was before.
Do some mindfulness to make sure you don't feel bad about this. Or maybe read some anti-capitalist theory.
SomebodythatIusedtonope
A couple of coffees is what I can do since now I’m also without a job, maybe one day I’ll need help myself, Stay Strong!
BarkTwainWasTaken
You are really sweet for this but you should be looking after yourself if you are in need... Maybe if things look up for me soon I will reach out to you and help if youd let me?
SomebodythatIusedtonope
Thanks, Imgur still keep a great community. I’ve seen a lot of humanity here and I’m just glad that other people are helping you in this moment
floobynooby
In a functional country him and 19 other people would have chipped in a dollar to do the same thing. Don't feel guilty about anything.
GrandPubabofMoldistan
Yeah but if you combine like 10s of millions of those 19 people together, you will find one who has a billion dollars and doesn't want to pay a dollar. So it's like not fair to him /s
randomdudefromtheinternet
In a functional Country the Goverment won't let it's citizen starve to begin with while a few megarich narcissists fly to space in their dick rockets.
STINKPICKEL
This is a functional country, they were helped, by one person. If it were a dis-functional country, the folks from the "community" in line might have pulled them aside, threw the food on the floor, then thrown the poor person out of the store . Mobs can be brutal. But that was not the case. Too bad the many Debbie Downers have to put up with peeps helping others IRL .
floobynooby
the fuck are you even on about? bye.
EroticZombiePants
I think the implication is that in a truly functional country help would be through a community network that cares for everyone instead of lucking out and having the individual behind you be charitable instead of merely impatient you are holding up the line.
STINKPICKEL
Reality is what really happened, not some cock-eyed view . One person able to step up did so.
EroticZombiePants
True, but there's no guarantee that will happen the next time something similar occurs.
BarkTwainWasTaken
I mean I would help a stranger too, but the guilt is difficult to get rid of
EroticZombiePants
Pay It Forward. Even if you can't give money, you can help someone else out in another way.
ontarioOT
Let the positivity of the act lift you up and feel more connected to others. It's what the kid would have wanted, not for you to feel guilt or shame.
Melociraptor
Your story is a powerful reminder that simple acts of kindness create lasting impact. Keep sharing these moments; they inspire us all to make a difference. ❤️
InDubiousBattle
Think of it as an opportunity. You get to be that person paying it forward next time. You can decline repayment and honestly say someone did it for you when things were hard. You're just holding the kindness for a little while.
Monkeyface8
This. 100%. I’ve been on both sides of this equation; it’s just the flow of life. One day you’ll do the same for someone else and have a little chuckle to yourself.