You Really Can’t Meet Your Heroes

The poor experience regular abrupt rejection, as do the people that want to help them.  Individuals and agencies write grants every day that will never result in funding, they make phone calls and write emails that garner no response. Meanwhile, a series of charlatan paper chasers who claim interest in the cause create barriers because ultimately, they only care about the figure in their bank account. I come across people in need all the time who cannot afford help, and although my business is for profit, I often provide free or very inexpensive support because I genuinely care about the success and happiness of others. Occasionally, I receive donations from different sources to support the work I’m doing even though I am for profit, but this isn’t nearly enough to support the droves of people in need – not even all who call on me.

On rare occasions, you see someone doing similar work with grand enthusiasm. This typically signals to me that this person is of similar heart, but the longer I spend in this space, the more I find that these people are not what they seem or claim. Most recently, I was disappointed by highly educated woman who specializes in the social service field. She heavily promotes her work and claims that it holds a deep meaning for her to teach people how to help – but only if the price is right and only for those who want to pay her specifically. We have thousands of people who could greatly benefit from what she offers but they will never see or hear it. It’s true what they say... you should never meet your heroes.

I wish more people were willing to put themselves out there to serve others without a selfish agenda. It breaks my heart a little to know that everything we need is right in front of us, just on the other side of a closed door.