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Thursday, April 9, 2015

To Be or Not To Be Hangry is the Question

When my daughter was a baby, she let it be known when she was ready to eat. It was by an ear-piercing, angry, yelling cry. Not unusual.

She's an adult now. Let's just say when she gets hungry, somebody had better provide some food and QUICKLY.

Don't get me wrong. She's a woman with a good heart. She's loving and sweet. She's helpful and generous. She's a beautiful Soul. But, don't let her get hungry or she becomes HANGRY and everything and everyone will annoy her.

I have a good friend who can get hangry and I married a man who is very much like that, too. What does that say about me? Apparently, I'm a 'hangry-magnet'.

I've had many a, ahem, debate, with them all at the times when they get hangry. I'll be honest, they are not pleasant people to be around. Everything becomes a test of my own patience.

This is why I can make a meal in 30 minutes or less. It's not Rachael Ray's idea. I learned this back in the 80's! Throw the food at them and get out of the way!

As I began this post I wondered, what happens if there is a shortage of food in someone's home and they have a hangry person on their hands? What if there is no money for the food? What if you have to send that hangry child or adult off to school or work in that mood? What about the elderly?

It happens everyday, everywhere.

There are children being sent to school hungry and angry, and rightfully so. Your co-worker may be irritable and the older neighbor may be a pain in the neck over a small issue. These are the times we are all tested. What do we do?

Children are unable to learn when they are hungry. Adults can't focus when they are hungry. If you are well-fed person able to provide for yourself and/or your family, we have an obligation to make sure everyone else is, too.

Lots of people ask why they should be responsible for someone else's belly when they work hard for what they have? My answer is because it's the right thing to do. We should not be able to walk around joyfully full with choices as "foodies", happy as a clam, indulging, even overeating, and still be able to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, "I've done well, today."

This is my opinion, it's encouraged as a Christian, of course, and should be so obvious that I marvel at how many people don't give it a second thought. This summer, there will be some children that eat and many children that won't have a school lunch. There are elderly people having to decide today whether to get their medication or buy groceries. There are people probably working around or beside you that chose to feed their children that morning but didn't have enough for themselves.

What can you do?

There will always be the poor, it is said. But, there shouldn't always be hungry everywhere, always. In your location, there is a food pantry to donate food or funds, there is a church that collects for the poor, there are agencies that provide meals, there are organizations that can recommend further actions, like www.NoKidHungry.com, http://www.feedingthenations.org/, and http://www.crs.org/ (Catholic Relief Services).

Somewhere in our budgets there is a little extra for those who don't have much or enough. It's a personal fund-seeking mission to find it, but it's there. Do you really need another lipstick? Can you live without Starbucks for a week or have one less dinner at a restaurant in month? Where's the waste in your budget?  If you are reading this, you are likely one that can contribute a few dollars or some of the canned goods or snacks in your pantry to a place that can get it to those who are in need.

On a personal level, paying attention to others helps. That person at work never eats lunch. Why? How about taking them out to lunch with you? What about sharing yours? If you feel there is a problem with accepting charity with that person, I've said, "I brought too much today! Would you like to split this with me?". Get creative if you must!

This is not a guilt-trip post. It's a Make People Aware post. We get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget and neglect those who are in need. We can all do better for each other. Let's try today.

Reboot Challenge? Feed someone.

Addendum:  Recent scientific explanation for being Hangry. Fascinating! http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/science-hangry-or-why-some-people-get-grumpy-when-they-re-hungry
 

2 comments:

  1. You brought up a good point, there will always be people hungry, but there will always be people that can help them not be hungry. We've done a lot over the years to help out as we can through homeless shelters, feeding the homeless, buying meals for people, etc. Just takes a little bit but goes a long way.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right...every little bit counts. Thanks! God bless you for your efforts!

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