Buddy Can You Spare a Dime

Buddy Can You Spare a Dime
Bing Crosby

When my kids were younger, we would always carry loose change in our pockets in case we came upon a street performer or someone with a hand out.    Perhaps it was because the kids were small and closer to the sidewalk and visual of these people, that they saw them immediately and asked for some coins to give away.   Or maybe it was because their eyes were open and had not yet become prejudiced by society's caution against scams and enabling the unfortunate to live unhealthy lifestyles.     They gave freely.    They danced with the performers.   They looked into the eyes of the people on the street without fear

When did that all change?   When did we stop carrying extra change?  When did we adopt the attitude that beggars were scammers or sponging off society.    When did we distrust everything we saw?  When someone asks for change for a bus or a coffee...why do we automatically assume they are being creative with the truth?

I hear myself replying to these requests that 'I have no change'.  When I know for sure that there are coins in my pocket or perhaps a snack that I can pass along.   I don't like what I hear myself saying.   I enjoy much of the music on the street and the sense that these performers share their gifts with such joy but yet, my purse strings remain tight.   Worse than that, I see that my kids have adopted the same practice.  What have I taught them? What am I afraid of?    

I am now making an attempt to change.    I consciously keep a few coins in my pocket when I go out for a walk.   I'm not so reluctant to part with my 'spare change'.     When someone asks 'Buddy can you spare a dime...or quarter, dollar, whatever, I hope that I will be there.   I hope that it will brighten their day and perhaps mine.