I just read a comment today that actually brought tears to my eyes, and it made realise that even the smallest gestures or kind words can make a difference.

What I noticed throughout this whole experience is that you truly see people for what they are.

My mom and I have stayed in countless hotels all over the South of England from London to Milton Keynes and every time we would run out of money and really didn’t have enough to pay the bill or for any food, we would go and stay with friends that through sad circumstances we lost touch with. These were people I knew for years and considered our closest allies.

I noticed a pattern that at each house we arrived each person was less than happy to see us let alone accommodate us. This constantly puzzled me. And in the past we had with no questions asked helped each of these families.

The first place I stayed was in West London. I come from an African immigrant family and we are taught that you always helped others in need, so I was sure there would be no problem us staying there for a little while until we figured out our bearings.

The whole atmosphere changed the moment we arrived. I am somebody who knows that when you stay at a person’s house you help as much as possible to make things peaceful.

No matter what I did, or how much of the little money we had we used to pay for food around the house it was never enough. I think the lady had a lot of secrets she didn’t want others to know about her (her house was filthy and lacked organisation) but whatever her reasons were I just knew I couldn’t stay there.

But what also pained me was that people had so many opportunities in life and were not grateful if I had the same simple resources they did I know I would be able to turn around my life.  It also made me realise how selfish people are and how the only thing on their minds are “me and my family” and don’t get me wrong I have been guilty of this in the past.  So the question really is, what has happened to us as a society?