Story About A Homeless Man Turning His Life Around With The Advice From One Woman Will Start Your New Year Right

Just like there’s a Humans of New York Facebook page, there’s also a Humans of Dublin that yep, you guessed it – does the same thing (posting stories from people the pages’ creators meet around the city) but with Dublin. This past Tuesday HoD posted a story from a formerly homeless man named Glenn, who wound up living on the streets during the 90’s after losing his store and family. According to Glenn, he’d pretty much given up on life until a young woman in her 20’s chatted him up on New Year’s Eve, 1999:

Glenn’s story is as follows:

“The turning point of my life was a young girl in 1999 walking by with her boyfriend at Christchurch on New Year’s Eve. It was lashing rain and I was sitting on some concrete steps with my long hair and beard, listening to the bells, wondering where my family were and how they were. Out of nowhere the young girl kneeld down in front of me, and like an angel with her blue eyes, said ‘Hi! What’s your name?’ I had to think. Nobody calls you by your name on the streets. ‘It’s Glenn,’ I told her, and she asked ‘What would make you happy Glenn?’ I said ‘I’m okay, I’m happy. I’m in a brave phrase. Thanks for asking.’ She went back to her boyfriend and got some cans from him and a pack of cigarettes and handed them to me. Then she asked again ‘If you could have one wish what would it be?’ I told her I wished to be with my family. ‘So why don’t you go home?’ She asked. I said no, that it’d been too long – three and half years. And she said ‘Just go!’ Just like that. This girl in her late twenties being the wisest person in the world. Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished me a happy New Year.
She’s out there somewhere not knowing what she did that day. You can make a difference in someone’s life that you might never meet again. You have the power. The best thing you can take from this world is the belief that you made a difference. I went home the next day.”

Glenn now frequently volunteers with a charity that helps the homeless called Dublin Simon Community and also reportedly works as an actor and writer. So in case you’re concerned about not being able to fulfill your upcoming New Year’s resolutions, just remember Glenn – and that anyone can turn their life around with a little hard work and elbow grease.

[H/T SomeEcards]