They are on every street corner, in every town. Maybe you've seen them, the beautiful souls with the hopeless eyes, the hungry and the helpless, the lost and forlorn.
I saw them, and my heart broke with each passing corner.
But what could I do? I barely had enough to feed myself and my child, and I was struggling to pay bills as I worked as a case manager for agencies who would end up failing to pay me, robbing me of what little I already had.
Then one day, I happened on this man.
His sign was unique, and it caught my eye. He was a genius! As it happened, I just had a conversation with a professor and fellow student regarding the ethics of neuromarketing, a relatively new field in the world of psychology. Actually, it's the ethics part that is new, the manipulation of peoples' minds, tastes, and attitudes has been going on for quite some time.
And I had an idea.
I would give the people with signs better signs. It would serve a two-fold purpose; first, hopefully the signs would bring more funds for the people holding them, and secondly, I was hoping to shift perceptions of the passers-by. I wanted to effect change, and CHANGE.
All I could offer was some kindness, some dignity, and a little ethical neuro-marketing.
I got to work and made a plethora of signs. And you know what? They worked! It actually worked! I'll be posting a few of the stories, each person deserves their own post, because each person is just that, a person, a unique soul, worthy of time attention, and respect.
As I read the story of @hickorymack , I wanted to reach out and give, but alas, once again, I have nothing but ideas and a heart to see people happy, healthy, and living out their dreams.
If you are like me, and have the heart to give, but not the resources, then this idea is for you. Maybe you could make a few signs. While you are passing them out, I guarantee you, you will make some new friends.
**Can one sign make a difference? **
Maybe.
Can many signs make a change?
We'll see.
For #valentinesday maybe you could pass out some better signs, do a little neuro-marketing for the people holding signs.
It's about making people THINK as they drive by, and shifting the perceptions of onlookers. Perhaps just the right person, with the right connections, and the resources, will drive by, at just the right time, and decide to DO something more than drive by.
I found a quote by @arbitrarykitten that touched me, and speaks to the heart of the issue:
"...most of the time if you see someone pan handling- it took an awful lot to get them to stoop that low. It is extremely degrading to stand on the street and beg, you really have to summon strength from I don't even know where. When you hear their story, remember there's so much more than there is time to tell, and you will never hear the worst parts."
@arbitrarykitten/10-things-i-learned-from-being-homeless
People are not disposable. They just aren't. I know you agree.