April 12, 2010
 Standing in line? Lame.
We all despise it to some degree right? How many times have you been excited for your favorite yogurt place restaurant or movie, only to have your excitement instantaneously deflated when you’re ushered with a smile (hopefully, but not always) towards a 30-minute line to wait. We as a society despise waiting so much we invented a way to wait in line in private. They call it Drive-thru!
I have a favorite coffee spot in the city. Actually, I admittedly have a few favorites, but today I was in the area of one near our old office in the East Village. The tender dark aroma of this place has a scent you can catch a half a block away, and thankfully, because of how tiny it is, the line is never too bad. Today as I rounded the corner towards the shop, something else was distinctly in the air. Another smell, not quite as savory, but something edible. It floated amongst the smell of fresh roasted beans, mixed with honeysuckle from the newly blossomed trees that line Avenue A. Being a farm boy and sucker for curious smells, I decided to follow my nose for just a second and investigate this peculiar but pleasant scent. What I found around the corner was not a early afternoon barbeque, or a farmer’s market cookout, it was the Salvation Army food truck and the line was devastating.
Like a slow moving infantry, the homeless lined the edge of Tompkins Square park in the warm sun. Every item they owned; collected trash, bottles and cans, cardboard, blankets and push carts clinked and clanked as the crowd moved in what felt like one slow unified crusade towards the food. Volunteers moved vigorously to serve the plates; a warmth on their faces that I knew only masked the sadness of such a scene. Just north of the line, less than a stone’s throw, the cruel irony of this scene is completed by a glowing, technicolor of a playground for children. Just a mere 30 yards away; laughter and innocence, snacks and handi-wipes.
I sat across the street for a moment, struck by the contrast. I thought to myself: everyone in this line was once like these children. A child full of perpetual hope and promise; with no worry about their next meal, only the next swing set. Now, it does me no good to try and contemplate why such things happen. It is beyond my knowledge, and will probably continue to be. But what I can contemplate is how grateful I can be for still having that hope and promise fill my everyday life. I can be grateful that I needn’t worry about where my next meal is coming from. I can be grateful to be in a position to give and not just receive.
I wrote the donation number down on the side of the truck and made my way back towards the coffee shop. A feeling of gratitude beaming inside of me somehow. As I turned the corner I saw, of course, there was a line. I stepped right in with a smile on my face, thankful simply for the choice to do so.
Stay grateful. Stay thankful. Stay humble.
All my best,
Jay Kubassek
Don't be stingy, share with your friends!
Posted: April 12, 2010
Filed under: Jays' Letters
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Hi Jay,
Part of living in the big city is seeing sites like this everyday. I too, am thankful that I have a choice each and every day to stand in any line I want to. I am most thankful to God through Jesus Christ for taking good care of me all these years.
WOW! Such a great word of inspiration. I am glad I stopped and read this because today was a trying day for me and I realize I only just dealt with a few people that rejected my services. I am having lobster and crab legs tonight and somehow that doesn’t compare to not having food at all. Thanks Jay.
Thank you, Jay. Gratitude is the greatest attribute. With this attitude it is impossible to be cruel.
That’s the thing about NYC, you’re always reminded in vivid color, of how both sides live. Every time I visit it helps to raise my awareness, and keep me grounded. Thanks for the article and your contributions.
Hi Jay,
Well written.
Thanks.
BTW is a “GRAVATAR” an Avatar from the cemetary?
Just joking.
Have a great day and next time I am in NYC let’s go together to that coffee house that you like.
Re coffee that I prefer: “Starbucks bold”
Kind regards
Peter
Hi Jay
Thanks for this timely,and yet thoughtful reminder,about giving.
I am wholesome believer that the more you give the more you
receive.
Fenley
Jay;
Just came out of the VA Hospital,(just for a check up) and when I got home I check my e-mail and your e-mail was the first one in the list.
This is a great letter and I hope everyone will read it. We should always be greatful for everything we have. I am greatful to receive this letter, greatful that you always have something to write and say that makes our day worth living. Looking forward to someday meet you.
Ramon
…. this is what I love to see and hear from those who have managed to realize their dreams. We are all just blips on the map of the universe and its lovely that you take those extra steps to try and ease others’ hardships. Thank you for putting a smile on my face today.
Very true Jay,
How fortunate we are! when healthy and able, and to be living in a Country like ours! We have to share with other people and Countries,
wow some deep insights. You have sound values that I am grateful to be aligned with. all the best Jay…dunk
Jay, I know you will go beyond just writing the number down. That seems to be the kind of man you are. We all can be thankful for so many things is our lives. There are many victories that come from those food lines as we reach to pull others from the trappings of life they are mired in.
Go Beyond where you are.
Thanks for the comment! I walk in that place of grateful and see those things everyday..
Jay,
Loved this letter!! It’s sad but incredible at the same time!
Hi’ Jay,
I personally want to thank you so much for this endearing article, I truly believe that articles like this should stay in a constant flow of circulation. Why you may ask? Because it’s a constant reminder to be ever so thankful for whatever little we may have or an abundance of what we have in life. This article has been very inspiring to me, because of what I have been through in my 31 years. When you spoke of the Salvation Army truck handing out food in lines, it was a sobering reminder of a time in my life when I have waited in those lines. You see I was burnt out of my home twice in my lifetime, and lost everything. The only organization that has helped me and my family, was the Salvation Army. So now that’s why I make it a point. When I hear that bell ringing outside of the door at a supermarket with the little red bucket. I make sure that I give a donation blessing to the Salvation Army organization. So thank you very much Jay, for continuing to enrich our lives with encouraging words of wisdom. Also thank you for continuing to be a blessing to the lives of so many people, and never forgetting where you came from in life.
With love and blessings of abundance, take care…
Truthfully,
David Aeneas Mosley Jr. aka “ASE”
I know how you feel about seeing a sad situation like that. Here I sit in my $251,900 condominium. Its all paid for. My new car sits down below my penthouse-type of place, and my office looks out and down below to the street. Every monday morning, I see the homeless and desperate going through my recycle container looking for bottles and cans.I am very fortunate that I have all I want in life. And when I see these poor people having to do what they do to make any money at all, is not just sad, its heartbreaking. I saw a man with an expensive car with the back open loading it up with cans and bottles. The car was full!I am glad that I donate to the Salvation Army on a regular basis.I dont do it to feel good, I do it because I want to.
Jay
Just before I read this, I was feeling very frustrated and overwhelmed. I read this letter and first of all I have tears running down my cheeks, I needed to hear this today, there are soo many so less fortunate than we are in this world, we at least have a future.
I’m so glad I clicked to read your complete letter and your elequent description of a typical morning on your way to the office. I, too, like my stops for those enjoyable morning cups of coffee and must say that I am not as fortunate as you to witness the great contrast that you experienced. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reflections. As you said, we should all be grateful that we have a little bit of “child” left inside us, as well as still being in a position to give and not just receive. What a great line!
Thanks again and, as a new student, I look forward to future letters,
Dean Duhart
Hi Jay,thats a good story,I really enjoyed it.It does bring back memorys tho.Ive been lucky enough, and was like you growing up , a country boy .You know and have learned a lot of different things to make a buck.Ive never been in that line but have had some pretty low times.I guess what Im saying is never say die in life and dont always except what life throws at ya either,we always have a way to change things If you want it bad enough!!Thats cool the way you got in line because you new that they were still people to! Hey Jay,You Have a Fantastic day today!!! Thanks for all the good info thats been made available also at CCPRO!!
thanks JAY for sharing your experience I too love sharing with someone that has less than others. I have been very blessed ,and I know you cannot out give GOD
I have recently joined CCPRO….just yesterday 13th April 2010. I am from India
As myself so many others would have had a similar experience. However what makes a noticeable difference is the fact that the guts of making a decision then n there of donating to such a noble cause….Cheers n Keep it up !!!
What i realized now is that if you have enough resources or no one should get into the habit of “giving” irespective of the magnitude of the contribution.
Working towards building up your resources so that one does it as a regular practice is what i am looking forward from CCPRO as it is one of the objectives for me.
Making a difference to mankind in a positive way is what is life all about….gives great satisfaction !!!
Thanks & Best Wishes !!
Hi Jay,
Thank you for this reality check. I have been so caught up in feeling sorry for myself, that I never took time to look at my situation and see the blessings I have in my life, such as a roof over my head, enough food, my children’s health. Reading your article made me realise that no matter how bad things are, there is a silver lining. This might just be the kick under my butt that I needed to get things going again.
Keep up the good work!
Sunelle Moore
What a great reflection! We don’t have that kind of public feeding in Sweden, well occasionally, but it struck me too, all those homeless having a plastic bag as their only thing to hold on to.
Thanks for a great article. And nice meeting you in Boca.
Lars in Sweden
What an awesome article. It really touched my heart…I especially liked the last line….Stay grateful. Stay thankful. Stay humble. I guess I needed to be reminded that I am so blessed to have choices even when I stand in lines.
Woke up this morning and found your article in the mailbox. Things always come at the right time and thank you for reminding me about gratitude. It’s so easy to get up in our daily lives and become insular to the needs of others. I try to practice my thanks and gratitude every day for ten minutes. It can be easy to get caught up in feeling sorry for oneself when things don’t go the way want. But compared to the people in the line I have got everything I need.
Wow Jay, I just love the passion you put into the articles you write. It always lifts my spirit to read one of your articles. Thanks for sharing and making someone else’s day a little bit brighter. God Bless.
Thanks for the article reminding us of those who do not have what we take for granted. It is truly something to reflect upon and also to remind us to share what we have through organizations such as The Salvation Army.
Wow I look forward to reading your letters they are always thought provocking ,
I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed and frustrated lateley and your letters always remind me to pull my head in and count my blessings ,thanks.
A great way to remember how lucky many of us are and how we all can help others no matter where they are situated in life.
Jay:
Fantasic story and a powerfull live life with gratitue and empathy for those we encounter on this planet.
these sentiments are powerful,
Thank you,
im Matheson
WELL GOOD MORNING AND HOWS IT GOING.I LOVE THE WAY JJ ALWAYS PUMPS PEOPLE UP AND TELLS THEM TO KEEP MOVING ON.ITS QUITE EXCITING WITH THE MINDSET AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS TO EDUCATE YOURSELF.IM STILL HAVING THE DARN MONEY ISSUES AND MY SPONSER BILL HAS EXPLAINED TO ME STEP BY STEP ON THINGS TO DO.IM GOING TO GET TO THAT M1 BY GOD IF IT KILLS ME BUT IM NOT QUITTING.IVE HAD SOME TIREKICKERS THAT DONT WANT TO EVEN ALLOW ME TO FOLLOW UP .THATS OK THO.IVE GOT A MASTER PLAN HAPPENING AND IN THEORY IT SHOULD WORK OUT GREAT .IN THE MEANTIME IM EDUCATING MYSELF AS MUCH AS I CAN GET MY HANDS ON.ITS BEEN OK AND IM STILL PLUGGING ALONG.IM A NEWBIE AT THIS BUT GETTING BETTER .OHHHHHYAAAAAAH THANKS JAY
Thanks for the wisdom and insight. Gratitude is a gift we all need to cultivate. Be blessed.
Thanks for the article!
Thanks for such an encouraging message. Apart from teaching us the blessings in giving, it also teaches us to be alert on all that goes on around us and also to notice the lives of those who are less fortunate than us. As we give them we realise how blessed we are and thank God for He loves all His creation equally. I agree with you that it is beyond our understanding.
God bless you J.
Hey Jay, I love to read you, amazing….
Jay,
Thank you for putting life in perspective,as we go along our daily routine and get involved with so much “STUFF” we forget that no matter where we are in our lives, there are people with many more challanges than we have. And to add to your words don’t ever forget were came from.
Hey Jay, Thank you for the great read.
Thanks Jay, i feel so grateful to be a part of a work community with leaders as yourself, who have their hearts in the right place.I just wrote “thankyou” on my wall, as a daily reminder.There is no guilt about making large amounts of money, when it’s purpose is to share and help the world be a better place.
Hi Jay,
As always it is both a pleasure and an inspiration.
These poignant moments put us back in our rightful
place.
Thanks
Mike
April 22, 2010
Hi Jay Kubassek,
Yes! You hit another bull’s eye. The first one, when you’ve created CCPRO together with your co-founder Aaron Parkinson…that you shared it and made accessible to anybody who are believing in you. And this time around when most of the people(if not all) around you, are already reaping the fruits or fortune through the marketing system that you’ve designed. It’s a wonderful story that you were able to picture out a scenario…as a “mirror” for us that somehow and somewhere, we have to share our blessings to the needy.
Very visual. That’s what happens when you stop to smell the coffee.
Hi Jay,
Thank you for the wonderful article! You have a talent of giving, that is why you are prosperous. The more you give the more you will receive. This is the greatest gift ever given by God… He gave His only begotten, “that who ever believes in him will have ever lasting life”
And you have given us the opportunity, if we believe in it,make use of it, then we shall be prosperous for life.
Keep on giving, you will be blessed!
Hi Jay,
Thanks for the inspiration. It’s a such a pleasant thing to know that the C.E.O of such an organization/co-founder of this community is embedded with strong moral values and can relate with persons like us saddled with these situation almost all our life. 97% of people from this part of the world where i come from live below poverty level just like the homeless collecting trash,empty bottles…etc described in this article, living with a residue of faith, hoping that tomorrow or someday we will break the jinx.
Jerry ,
you ‘re so right .
thanks !
I liked it.
Thanks for sharing your emotions, it is very kind of you
I am always greatful and inspired by your postings Jay. They make me re evaluate my blessings. Thanks a million!!
Jay
Thanks for the article, it reminds me what i tell my children. To thanks god that they have shelter, food and a family, I show them to care about others, because they never know when they will need to have some one to care about them.
I will love to go to that coffee shop, when I will be in town, let me know the adress please.
JR
Jay,
thank you, its always important to be reminded how grateful we should be for the things we have. Look forward to reading more of your posts.
Alison
Live Beyond Nine to Five