They say beggars can’t be choosers.

Evidently, this is not the case following my first new experience of the year, ‘buying a homeless person a hot meal.’

In a decade where financial struggles are rife, we can all be guilty of catering to our own needs and overlooking the hardships of those around us.

One area I think from a personal perspective I could improve on is being more generous to those in need.

I’ve occasionally given out small change when asked by a member of the homeless community but rarely have I gone out of my way to do so.

As I was walking back to the car through the brisk Saturday night air, whilst avoiding the drones of drunken revellers, I spotted an older looking guy wrapped up in a blanket surrounded by his only worldly possessions.

Feeling fully satiated from a huge Indian meal, I felt for him and immediately remembered an item from my list of new experiences which was to buy a homeless person a hot meal.

After hunting for the nearest cash machine, I located a food outlet where I bought a cup of tea and some cheesy chips (it’s hard to know what to buy someone you’ve never met!) and headed back to where the guy was located.

I’d had a few glasses of wine with my meal so didn’t feel awkward going up to him to present him with his meal for the night but I was a little surprised when he declined the hot drink because he doesn’t drink tea!

To be fair to him, he appreciated the gesture and I hadn’t based my decision to do this to get a positive reaction but I was a little surprised that he would decline a hot drink on such a cold night.

I think in my mind, a person living in poverty wouldn’t have the luxury of preferences but then that might just be my own ignorance of the reality of the situation.

I plan on spending some time on the streets later on in the year to experience firsthand what it’s like to be homeless.

For now though, I can use this new experience as a platform to be less selfless in the future and a catalyst to kick on with my year of new experiences.

-Craig