I’m just on my way to Germany for a weekend dive trip and on entering the airport I was stood looking at departure times when an over enthusiastic (for that time in the morning) children in need collector invited me to buy some merchandise.

To set the scene, I had a big heavy bag resting on my shoulder, I wasn’t sure where I needed to go and how to get there and I was in the process of getting my bearings and checking flight info.

All I wanted to say at that moment was ‘no I don’t want any of your merchandise, I’m busy and  I’ve got a big bag that keeps slipping off my shoulder and pissing me off….’ But I didn’t, I wanted to appear a good guy……so what did I do? I lied.

I said ‘I’ve already given to the charity today’.

That will stop her I thought.

‘Where?’ She asked.

Fuck, I’ve got to go deeper.

‘My train station’ I said.

‘Which train station?’ she asked.

Long story short, by the time I’d finished my elaborate story of helping the charity she offered me a free sticker to prove my loyalty to the cause so I would not be interrogated again.

And whats worse –  I took it!!!!

Not only did I feel bad for lying, now I was taking from a charity I’d given nothing to!

As I walked off I went to the toilet and whilst sat there, (a place I do my best thinking), I contemplated why I’d done this.

But whilst I was contemplated the human psyche and my own human needs, the voice that often slaps me into action said ‘don’t fucking worry about all that shit, what are you going to do to rectify it?!I tell you what you can do. Its easy. Get off the pot, find the nearest Children in need collector and give them some money and stop being such a pussy in future and just say no if you don’t want to do something.’

So I did…..and got not a word of thanks. So balance was restored.

Because at the end of the day, no one really gives a shit what we do or do not do. It’s down to us to sort our shit out and strive to correct the stuff that we don’t like about ourselves, even if that’s simply that we don’t appreciate what we do have rather than fixing just what we see as ‘the bad stuff’.

This story alone shows at least I have a conscience, that in some way I do care, despite at times being selfish and just wanting to do what I want to do!