Half for me and Half for the Homeless

            I currently work in the heart of downtown in a major American city.  It’s the beginning of March and spring’s welcomed arrival can be sensed by all.  Along with the eager anticipation of warm weather, comes the troubling realization that my laziness and self-indulgence over the winter and holidays have caused some of my summer cloths to fit a little snug.  I know that after a little procrastination I’ll be back in the gym and eating healthy in the near future, but it also dawned on me that I might be able to do some good while getting in shape.

            Things like participating in charity runs, stair climbs, or swims are fantastic means of motivating yourself to get into shape.  Also, the repetitive movements of ladling food out at a soup kitchen or hammering nails on a Habitat for Humanity site will burn calories and help others, but these are not random act of kindness.  

            A simple and random way for a urban worker to keep their diet in check and help someone in need is to give part of your lunch to one of the many hungry, homeless individuals you pass in the streets on your way to and from lunch.  For example, if you are getting a foot long sub at Subway, but feel satisfied after eating half of the sandwich you can just pass the second half off to a person that could use it.  The individual can only use food to eat, so there is zero spare change uncertain.  Spare change uncertain is what I call it when the person uses your generosity to buy booze or narcotics instead of necessities.  However, by offering part of your meal your diet stays intact while improving the diet of a person in need.

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