So yesterday I was on my way to someplace quiet to prepare for the first Vox Toronto Staff meeting which, btw, was awesome! I'm so excited for what a small group of people can and might do here in Toronto. Anyhow, I was on my way to do some work for this not-for-profit organization we're trying to bring to Toronto - one that's inviting people to care enough to make a difference in our city - and while I was walking I got asked if I wanted to buy a paper.

Now, you must understand, getting approached on the street here in Toronto to buy something is not unique. What WAS unique is that I was approached by a homeless person who was actually selling something to try and get some money. With my head in a zone I muttered something under my breath like "not today", put my head down and kept walking...

...at least for 20 feet. Suddenly the irony of what I'd done hit me and I lifted my head, slowed my pace and turned around. I then met Olga, a kind lady, willing to talk and tell me why she was selling the paper, how much they were and where she got them. It was very pleasant. I gave her a toonie and she shook my hand. 

It occurred to me in that moment that caring is very easy to claim to do until you're asked to act on it. In other words talk can be cheap. Here I am, claiming to be someone who wants the world to become a bit more human and trying to get people to join me in doing something that moves Toronto in that direction and yet I'm just burying my head and walking past people like Olga as though they don't matter - as if she's not human.

I guess that questions I'm asking here is what does it mean to care? Is lip service enough? How far does one have to be willing to go before we really know that they care? 

I'm interested in your thoughts.

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