Yesterday, I started work at 7am and finished at 8pm. Long day! However, this post isn’t about working long hours, it’s about the encounter I had whilst I stood at the bus stop at 6.30am. Standing there, wrapped up against the morning chill, I noticed the silhouette of a man walking towards me, but on the opposite side of the road. He was staggering, I guessed very inebriated. He spotted me and began crossing the road, obviously making his way towards me.
Half way across the road he flung his arms wide and shouted in a slurred voice “Nobody loves you, but you “! When he finally reached me, he placed his arm around my shoulder and repeated his message, “Nobody cares about you brother, so you have to care about yourself and look after number one”! Smelling the alcohol on his breath, I quickly assessed him and agreed with him as I smiled. He then quite comically said “Who’s number one”? I replied, with all the gusto of a Baptist preacher “I am”, trying my best not to allow humour to reveal itself across my face.
He went on to ask about my wellbeing several times before moving on in his one man crusade to liberate all who would listen.
I watched him as he stumbled away, meandering into the road and swerving back onto the footpath. I noticed a man standing alone in the near distance wearing high vis, and knew he was about to be accosted in the same way. I was right. The high vis man was greeted with the same arm around the shoulder and probably the same words of wisdom. A couple of minutes later, the drunken man moved on and the high vis man started walking in my direction. He reached me quickly and said “What a waste of space, he should get a f$#%ing job”!
I nodded as my bus came into view.
On the bus journey to work I replayed what the drunken man had said, and thought that maybe, through his alcohol fuelled words, he had spoken the truth.
Who knows.
Haha, love your story! Sometimes one is most awake when he is drunk, drunken π
LikeLiked by 9 people
It all starts with oneself before passing on to others. It is difficult for one to care for and love others if one has not previously taken care of and loved oneselfππ€β€ππ
LikeLiked by 8 people
β₯οΈβ₯οΈ
LikeLiked by 2 people
I find it very unkind to call another person a “waste of space”. One never knows the history of people and why they are where and how they are.
LikeLiked by 8 people
That’s right stella, that’s why I just listened to him.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Haha, maybe the drunken man is correct. One has to care for oneself before anybody else. Anyway, loved your story π
LikeLiked by 6 people
Thank you β₯οΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like he was trying to pass on some care by reminding people to care for themselves first. You canβt pour from an empty cup. What a great story and encounter. Your attitude towards the man is the most heart warming. I wonder if he realises that the minor human connection you had impacted you enough to write about it… beautiful!
LikeLiked by 6 people
I’m not sure, I think he to pissed to realise anything. Felt kinda sorry for him
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thatβs a bit sad. Itβs nice that you could still show a bit of kindness to him even though he probably wonβt remember.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love these little random encounters we have in life. They must happen for a reason because they always seem to happen at a time when we need them most.
LikeLiked by 6 people
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason β€οΈ
LikeLiked by 2 people
I really love encounters like this, theres so much honesty to them.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I guess there is, it was a little bit sad though
LikeLike
In vino, veritas, as someone more educated than I once said π
LikeLiked by 5 people
So your long day began sooner than you expected
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes it certainly did, but my dad became better
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of my experience of being pissed was solipsistic. The world revolved around me so very sweetly. I probably muttered truth and nonsense in equal measures. I’ve been lucky enough to feel the love of others, so would have to disagree with your fleeting acquaintance.
Nice story John.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Lovely story !!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Great post
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you π
LikeLike
You have to wonder what obstacles he has dealt with in his life.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Powerful storyβ¦almost a parable! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you buddy π
LikeLike
Yep… truth – as the Good Book says – “out of the mouths of babes…” so, let’s add drunks to that line…
Maybe you were the only one kind to him that whole day! Thanks! ππ
LikeLiked by 4 people
I think I would have preferred to spend time with the drunk man rather than the judgemental one. β€οΈ
LikeLiked by 3 people
Motivational speakers get paid big bucks to say the exact same thing. Itβs just that we usually listen to what we have paid for.
Love the story. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on My Thoughts and commented:
Thanks for the like, craig
“not such a hard worker in a proper job” c
but “driven” in wrong directions??
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, disappointed in love, do you think, or just thrown out of someoneβs all night party? Or just plain wrong. I ho-pe he was wrong. Thanks for visiting my blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got the impression that he was as high as a kite
LikeLiked by 1 person