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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Survival / Success
- Subject: Survival / Healing / Renewal
- Published: 06/01/2014
Impact - The Hunger In Your Heart
Born 1988, M, from Toronto, Canada.jpg)
Life happens so fast. We seldom stop to think about how our actions affect other people. We don’t realize that doing or saying something that’s minor to us has the ability to change someone’s life forever. One should always think about the impact that can be made on this world and the people in it and not be afraid to leave their mark, even in unexpected places.
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The 1980’s saw cocaine become the biggest drug craze since Timothy Leary popularized LSD in the 1960’s. Cocaine allowed people to get a rush of happy energy like a dam opened wide, but didn’t stop them from doing every day things. Enter high paced, wealthy lawyers. They embraced the snow with full wallets. If the money kept flowing, the pile kept growing. If it stopped, they had a problem because cocaine is a two-faced drug. It’s beautiful, like softly falling snow, but it can also lead you into the worst blizzard of your life.
Harry Holland was a hotshot lawyer in New York City. For a long time, business was kind and Harry was on top of the game. His coke habit wasn’t an issue until his firm dissolved right out from under his expensive shoes. He lost everything. The once full wallet that stretched Armani pant pockets was now as empty as the day he bought it.
There’s nothing worse than an addict without money. They will go to any means to find what they need to get their fix. Harry turned into an animal. He traded his flashy suits for drugs and raggedy shirts. Each hole representing a night strung out. Lost. The slick black hair that shone with success was now frizzled like frayed wires. The things he did in the years he was homeless were shameful, but he was desperate. They spoke of a man trying to cling to a morsel of happiness. Every bump bringing back the euphoric sensation that he chased to no end.
Then came the 1990’s, ringing with potential. Harry began the decade as a 5-year homeless veteran. On New Years Eve, December 31st, 1989, he overdosed. A regular citizen found him in Brooklyn on the raw pavement, unconscious. The near death experience shook his foundation, but the addict inside still salivated for more.
It was a simple twist of fate that he found himself begging on Canal Street on a bone-chilling winter day.
“Change?” he held out an almost empty McDonald’s cup.
The crowd of people was never ending, but it was as if everyone walked through him. Harry had gotten $2 and was about to stand up and leave his corner when a man with slick black hair and a fine black jacket approached.
“Here you go.” The man placed a few bills into the cup. “Go and get yourself something to eat.”
Years on the street had sucked the life right out of Harry’s aged eyes, which looked up at the man with a tear stealing the space.
“Harry?” he moved closer. “Is that you?”
Harry looked away.
“What’s happened to you?” The man kept studying the ruins before him. “All this since our firm dissolved?”
Harry shook his head. Sam was an old friend from work.
“Come to my place. I’ll give you a nice meal and a bed to sleep in tonight.”
Harry hated being the source of someone’s pity party, but couldn’t pass up the offer. It was the only one of the sort he’d ever received.
They spent the night catching up at Sam’s luxurious penthouse apartment. Harry spilled his soul out, tears following suit. Sam’s heart softened. It became hungry like Harry, hungry to help.
“I’ll tell you what. You promise to get help and stop the drugs and I’ll let you stay here until you do.”
This was his one chance to change, and he vowed to do just that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Within the next year, Harry was back in his suit, but not to practice law. He focused his talents on helping others by starting the Helping Hungry Hearts Foundation with Sam. The charity did it all. They delivered meals to the homeless, ran shelters, fundraising campaigns, addiction treatment and Helping Hungry Hearts awareness seminars…
“Thank you all for coming,” Mr. Holland addressed a jam-packed Radio City Music Hall. “My story is a long tale, but I won’t bore you with the details. We aren’t here to talk about me. What I will tell you is that I have seen rock bottom and it was hard to get out, almost impossible. I couldn’t have done it without my friend and co-founder, Sam Hart. He showed me there was light when my whole world was dark. And this is what Helping Hungry Hearts is all about. Now, I want you to look around the Hall.” He waited a moment as heads turned. “You are the people with the power to make a difference. One persons’ generosity made the world of difference to me. Can you imagine the impact this group can have on the world?”
The place erupted in a resounding “Yes!”
Harry scanned the audience from left to right, eyes now full of life.
Impact - The Hunger In Your Heart(Dave Maze)
Life happens so fast. We seldom stop to think about how our actions affect other people. We don’t realize that doing or saying something that’s minor to us has the ability to change someone’s life forever. One should always think about the impact that can be made on this world and the people in it and not be afraid to leave their mark, even in unexpected places.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The 1980’s saw cocaine become the biggest drug craze since Timothy Leary popularized LSD in the 1960’s. Cocaine allowed people to get a rush of happy energy like a dam opened wide, but didn’t stop them from doing every day things. Enter high paced, wealthy lawyers. They embraced the snow with full wallets. If the money kept flowing, the pile kept growing. If it stopped, they had a problem because cocaine is a two-faced drug. It’s beautiful, like softly falling snow, but it can also lead you into the worst blizzard of your life.
Harry Holland was a hotshot lawyer in New York City. For a long time, business was kind and Harry was on top of the game. His coke habit wasn’t an issue until his firm dissolved right out from under his expensive shoes. He lost everything. The once full wallet that stretched Armani pant pockets was now as empty as the day he bought it.
There’s nothing worse than an addict without money. They will go to any means to find what they need to get their fix. Harry turned into an animal. He traded his flashy suits for drugs and raggedy shirts. Each hole representing a night strung out. Lost. The slick black hair that shone with success was now frizzled like frayed wires. The things he did in the years he was homeless were shameful, but he was desperate. They spoke of a man trying to cling to a morsel of happiness. Every bump bringing back the euphoric sensation that he chased to no end.
Then came the 1990’s, ringing with potential. Harry began the decade as a 5-year homeless veteran. On New Years Eve, December 31st, 1989, he overdosed. A regular citizen found him in Brooklyn on the raw pavement, unconscious. The near death experience shook his foundation, but the addict inside still salivated for more.
It was a simple twist of fate that he found himself begging on Canal Street on a bone-chilling winter day.
“Change?” he held out an almost empty McDonald’s cup.
The crowd of people was never ending, but it was as if everyone walked through him. Harry had gotten $2 and was about to stand up and leave his corner when a man with slick black hair and a fine black jacket approached.
“Here you go.” The man placed a few bills into the cup. “Go and get yourself something to eat.”
Years on the street had sucked the life right out of Harry’s aged eyes, which looked up at the man with a tear stealing the space.
“Harry?” he moved closer. “Is that you?”
Harry looked away.
“What’s happened to you?” The man kept studying the ruins before him. “All this since our firm dissolved?”
Harry shook his head. Sam was an old friend from work.
“Come to my place. I’ll give you a nice meal and a bed to sleep in tonight.”
Harry hated being the source of someone’s pity party, but couldn’t pass up the offer. It was the only one of the sort he’d ever received.
They spent the night catching up at Sam’s luxurious penthouse apartment. Harry spilled his soul out, tears following suit. Sam’s heart softened. It became hungry like Harry, hungry to help.
“I’ll tell you what. You promise to get help and stop the drugs and I’ll let you stay here until you do.”
This was his one chance to change, and he vowed to do just that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Within the next year, Harry was back in his suit, but not to practice law. He focused his talents on helping others by starting the Helping Hungry Hearts Foundation with Sam. The charity did it all. They delivered meals to the homeless, ran shelters, fundraising campaigns, addiction treatment and Helping Hungry Hearts awareness seminars…
“Thank you all for coming,” Mr. Holland addressed a jam-packed Radio City Music Hall. “My story is a long tale, but I won’t bore you with the details. We aren’t here to talk about me. What I will tell you is that I have seen rock bottom and it was hard to get out, almost impossible. I couldn’t have done it without my friend and co-founder, Sam Hart. He showed me there was light when my whole world was dark. And this is what Helping Hungry Hearts is all about. Now, I want you to look around the Hall.” He waited a moment as heads turned. “You are the people with the power to make a difference. One persons’ generosity made the world of difference to me. Can you imagine the impact this group can have on the world?”
The place erupted in a resounding “Yes!”
Harry scanned the audience from left to right, eyes now full of life.
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