I wanted to write this last night, but after a long and hectic day at work, exhaustion got the best of me. I had just eaten and was settling down to put my thoughts together, but before I knew it, I was out like a light out with no pun intended. So, what was on my mind yesterday?
As many of you, my frequent readers, know, I’m on the road for work, and currently, I’m in a city where finding a parking spot is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It’s a daily struggle. But yesterday was different. I got home around 9 PM and, miraculously, there was an open parking spot right in front of the building I reside, if it had my name on it, marked "Reserved for Ronnie." I thanked my guardian angels and parked.
Before heading inside to shower, I decided to sit in my car for a few minutes to unwind. That’s when I made an interesting observation.
Yes, Mr. Critical Eye on the Streets. Those who know me well understand that I always deploy my observational skills wherever I go. In fact, I’ve recently embraced the nickname "The Critical Eye." Last night was no different.
It was Tuesday night—garbage collection night. Around here, the city collects trash late at night on Tuesdays, usually around midnight. I suppose it makes sense, less traffic, fewer disruptions, and faster pickups. As I sat there, I noticed piles of garbage and cardboard boxes lining the streets, ready for collection. It happens twice a week, yet the sheer volume of trash we produce never ceases to amaze me.
Then, something caught my attention.
A man, wearing a headlamp, the kind miners use when working in the belly of the earth, he was digging through the garbage. Was this dumpster diving for survival?
At first, I wondered what he was doing. Then I saw him untying carefully secured trash bags, searching for bottles to recycle.
I was deeply moved.
Think about it, those garbage bags could contain anything. While most people don’t discard human excrement in regular trash, there’s no shortage of filth: rotting food, broken glass, dirty napkins, and all sorts of unpleasant waste. Yet, this man was out there, in the cold winter night, searching for recyclables.
At that moment, my mindset shifted. I had just come from a grueling shift at work, feeling drained and frustrated about what to eat for dinner. But seeing this man at work changed my entire perspective. Suddenly, my exhaustion no longer felt overwhelming. In fact, it vanished.
Instead of heading inside for a shower and bed, I cooked a meal and spent the evening reflecting.
I don’t know how many bottles this man could manage to collect in a single night. But let’s break it down:
->Each bottle is worth 5 cents to recycle.
->To make $20, he would need to collect as many as 400 bottles.
And to make $30, he would need at least 600 bottles.
Now, imagine trying to survive in the Tri-State area in the United States on that kind of money. The thought alone is enough to send someone into despair. But this man wasn’t sitting at home feeling sorry for himself. He was out there, doing what he could to make ends meet. I don’t know his story, but I deeply respect him.
This experience reinforced something important: there’s always something happening around us if we take the time to notice among us. It’s easy to get caught up in our own struggles, but sometimes, observing someone else’s reality can completely shift our perspective. It did just that to me.
I encourage you to stay alert to the world around you. You never know what lessons life is waiting to teach you. It doesn't matter where and what I'm doing, my eyes are always wide open as I'm always hungry to learn from what other people are going through.
Have a great evening.
God bless.
Pal Ronnie
