Why I Gave my Neighbor Weed, Beer and Gas Money
I know people who are motivated for all sorts of reasons. They want fame, fortune, popularity or stuff like big screens and fancy cars. Most people I know are trying to replicate something they see and live up to the narrative. They want to be a gangster like in the movies, or they want to make it big like a rock star, or these days folks want to hit big on the social media. Some of my friends have dreams of business. They want to create a successful startup or come up with the next big idea that will fetch them millions, maybe even billions, and lead to the life they always wanted.
Motivation is something I try to understand. The old way of thinking, which is the way I was raised with, is that things like free money, beer and weed will deplete motivation. That if you give someone something for nothing, they will be less likely to become independent, self-sufficient, decent people who are worth a crap.
Fortunately a new understanding about motivation is emerging. It’s not comfort that takes away our motivation. (Free money, weed and beer are an amazing a source of comfort). No, it’s actually assholes who demotivate us. Imagine!
Human beings are all interconnected and to some extent we must rely on each other for basic needs — including motivation! Preaching that human beings are inherently lazy and untrustworthy, that in order to be worthy of basic comforts one must suffer, and that without tireless labor brought about through almost super human motivation we are not worthy of something like gas money, weed and beer… WTF this is a recipe for social turmoil. Only a misguided asshole would preach these things.
Case in point… my neighbors. Did they deserve free weed, beer and gas money? That’s none of my f-ing business. Were they properly motivated to be independent mavericks and moguls? I don’t care. Did I want them to enjoy some basic comfort and have the basic necessities? Yeah kind of.
The real question is: do I have a little extra to give them? And the answer is yes. As someone who comes from the middle class and has never really had to worry about stuff too much it was a little frightening when I considered helping my neighbor. What if they ask for more and more? What if they bug me or are weird to me? What if they start coming over all the time looking for “handouts”? What if they bother my precious family? What would my wife or my mom say if they knew I was giving them weed and beer? (I am still waiting and a little scared of their reactions).
Fortunately my fears turned to more positive thoughts. What if they are actually nice people and continue to be nice neighbors? What if they have something good and give me some? What if helping neighbors is really the right thing to do? What if it is actually the Christian thing to do?

So when I was speaking to my neighbor and he told me they were out of gas for their generator, faith compelled me to offer to fill up their tank. When we were at the gas station purchasing the gas I remembered how Jesus offered up his cloak after he offered his shirt, and I bought the poor guy a beer too. When we were talking about the young guys that he lived with, I clearly asserted that it was in fact very positive if they were at home smoking weed and not doing a lot of other drugs or going out and making trouble. To put my “money” where my mouth is I offered to give them some weed. (I see them a lot sitting in their parking lot smoking their bong).
I am pretty sure my neighbors have suffered enough. They are poor people. They have been in and out of the correction systems. The other night I overheard my neighbor yelling about finding his girlfriend passed out on the trail. It’s hard to describe how glad I am to know they have a roof over their heads now. Apparently just a few years ago they were camping on that trail permanently. And I am glad that I am able to encourage them. I drive by homeless camps every day and I do not think anyone deserves to be living like that. It’s up to all of us to help one beer, bud and gallon of gas at a time. And I am 100% certain that simple comfort and encouragement are more motivating than any speech about pulling up bootstraps. After all we are interconnected in this beautiful planet we all call home. Sometimes we need help lifting ourselves up.