Urban Thought Collective

Hey UTC!

I’m back, and in this one short week, a lot has happened to me. I’ve seen a lot of things, heard some inspirational people talk, and observed hundreds of people starting their day. I wanna share something with you that we rarely acknowledge, and often take advantage of, but it made my day just a lil bit better.

My daily ritual is as follows: I get up at 6:00 AM and head to the Starbucks in Sherman Oaks, California. This is about a 35-minute commute, so depending on my mood, (and hunger) I’ve been known to purchase a Venti Caramel Frapuccino with light whip cream and an egg and black forest ham breakfast sandwich, while I wait on my work shift to begin at 9:00 AM in Studio City, California.

I have a good amount of time to myself before heading to work. I’m either on my laptop trying to get an internet connection, writing my book, zoning out to the lyrics and melody of Musiq Soulchild’s fourth album on my Ipod, or just simply observing the “breakfast club.” I get the chance to watch everyone from children to high school students to adults trying to get their boost for the day.

Everyone seems to be your “average Joe.” There are your average income adults who purchase coffee for themselves and the folks who pull up in Range Rovers and Mercedes Benz’s and purchase coffee for the whole company. Nevertheless, I sit and take note, and watch how people act and relate to each other while they stand in a line that’s always just about out the door.

My big surprise and shock is that you can get inspiration and hear the kindest words and conversations from the people you would never expect. For example, on Monday, a less-than-fortunate (I really don’t like the term ‘homeless’) man that wasn’t dressed too nice was going thru the garbage looking for recyclable bottles and cans right next to where I was posted up on the wall waiting for my ride to arrive. Sad to admit, but just like any average human, I paid him no mind and tried not to make eye contact with him for fear he would ask me for some spare change or something.

However, he said “excuse me” with dread, but he continued with his question anyway… “Did you see that game last night? The Lakers got cheated by those Celtics. Those refs couldn’t be any blinder, could they? And when Derek Fisher got fouled on the last shot, the refs didn’t call anything! I can’t wait ‘til they come home Tuesday. I just got tickets to the game!”

Of course, I was shocked; I certainly didn’t expect him to ask me about a basketball game! He began to tell me how he has a good job, but was off that day, and because ‘some people’ are so wasteful, that he comes behind them and makes a few extra bucks from their thrown away cans and bottles. I immediately gained respect for him, and I felt horrible on the inside for what I assumed about him just moments prior.

To this day, I strongly feel that God was testing me, to see if I had a meek and humble attitude about my fellow brother as he instructs us to do in the Bible. Or, maybe God was seeing if I would have an attitude of ‘giving and helping’ and play the “Good Samaritan” role, or turn my back on my own brother. The bible says that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. Do we? We all would like to believe that we would help anyone out in just about any circumstance, and that ‘if he thirsts, we shall give him drink,’ right? But how many of us really live by that scripture… really?

Well I can honestly say that from that experience, I have a different perspective of those who ‘appear’ to be less fortunate. For we know not what their story is. It reminded me that things aren’t always as they seem to be.

I have a challenge for you all. The next time you’re in a situation with someone who appears to be less than you, don’t turn your back, stereotype, or look down on them. Instead, lend a helping hand and make yourself available. You never know what’s behind those clothes… or better yet, who.

Who knew I would get a wonderful message like this over a harmless breakfast in Cali?

Torian Salery is a senior at Troy University in Alabama, studying Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations. He is interning at a black woman owned PR & marketing firm in Los Angeles. His observations on his summer experiences are exclusive to Urban Thought Collective.