My Number 1 Tip for Weight Loss

Posted by E-George on September 21, 2007

Give your lunch to a panhandler.

For the last 2 weeks, I have been walking the 1.1 miles from my office to the Rapid Ride bus stop.  I do this for two reasons:

1. On those days when I first go to work, then go to class, and then return to work, it saves a lot of gas, and interestingly enough, time.
2. I still get to walk every day.

Walking this route has been peaceful, uninterrupted, and, until today, free of panhandlers.  On my walk back to the office, I stopped and picked up a to-go lunch, which I then carried with me until I was nearly 1 block from the office.  Approaching on the same side of the street was an older woman and a younger man pushing a grocery cart.  After asking me for cash for the “bus” I replied that I had no more, and then they followed up by saying they were just hungry.  My heart sank a little, because I was hungry, and really looking forward to eating my little lunch.  But they had asked (without really asking) for a non-cash, tangible thing that I had in my hand that I could actually give them and it would be helpful.   We both looked at my sack of lunch, and then looked at each other.  With a smile, I gave them my lunch.  The woman looked genuinely taken aback, as though she half way thought I was jacking around with them, and rambled something about not wanting to take my lunch.  I told her not to worry, I’d eat lunch tomorrow, and that I figured it was important for her to eat lunch today.

So, this is my tip for American weight loss:  Consider giving your lunch to someone who asks for it.  You’ll still get to eat a healthy dinner tonight, you’ll be none the worse for wear, and you’ll have exercised some compassion, an often torpid and unused aspect of our spirits.

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