The man on the bus, you think his answers could have been different by asking if he needed help? What people are desperate for is kindness and love, they want to feel they belong and others care.

I do not like pity, I am embarrassed by pity and I would respond as he did. Your action was to make you feel better not him. What he needed was a human embrace, difficult for some to express.

Cultural habit or norms have some to do with the fact we want to solve problems with money and protect our heart from becoming engaged.

I am a transplant from Europe and keenly aware of differences in societal norms and its effect.

Thanks for opportunity to reflect.