Rico Sharp meets Dylan, a homeless man dealing with food insecurity, mental health struggles, and suicidal thoughts. Rico shares his own history of addiction and incarceration, gives Dylan money and his number, and prays with him about finding strength to move forward.
Chapters
Need food, meds.
Waiting for SSDI. What is SSDI?
Social Security Disability.
Disability. Okay. Yeah, yeah. 10% of heart function, but will still do my work. Yeah, my father, he passed away, uh, about 3 years or so ago from COVID-19, but he had a heart that was down to 8% and he had to have a heart transplant. And, uh, but he did get it and it was It improved his quality of life. So, Dylan, let me say this, man, and I'm gonna get ready to leave. Keep that attitude you have. Keep believing that things are gonna get better. If for whatever reason you have a hard time, like, forgiving yourself for something that you did, maybe choices and decisions that can go way, way, way back, forgive yourself. The second thing is be your best friend. Always put yourself in the best situation for you, regardless of what other people say about you or how they feel about you. Always believe in you and be your best friend. Always stand by you and do what you have to do to take care of you. And if you do, man, your life is going to get better. I promise you. See, you're looking at somebody that can relate to you because I was on drugs. I used to sell drugs. I've been incarcerated 19 times. I've been out there on the street, so I know what it's like. I was addicted to cocaine. I know what it's like. And if it can happen for me, my name is Rico. If it can happen for me, it can happen for you too. So man, I just want you to just keep trying. Don't give up. It's hard. You may find yourself hungry. cold, wet, sleeping on the street corner. You may find yourself struggling, angry, angry at God, wanting to take your life. And I understand, man. I know what it's like. But brother, hold your head up, man. Somebody believes in you. Somebody cares about you. Someone is going to help you. Your situation is going to change. God is going to see you through this time, and you're going to get a whole lot better. One day you'll be able to look back on this moment and say, man, I'm glad that guy came and talked to me. Because that's what we need sometimes. We need to be lifted. We need to be encouraged. Courage. We need a pat on our back.
Sometimes that's all it takes to change somebody's mind from killing themselves, and they don't know that. People don't realize that.
Yeah.
Sometimes all it could take is just somebody asking, how you doing?
Yeah.
I struggle with real, with real mental health issues.
Yeah, yeah.
And then you have people that water it down so much just for the attention, and you got people that really struggle every day.
I'm gonna add some more money to what I was going to give you, man. I'm gonna give you all the money that I got in my pocket. And, uh, man, you take this right here and I wish you the best, my brother. I wish you the best, man. Let me, let me give you a hug, man. You're gonna be my buddy, Dylan. Anytime I see you anywhere, I'm gonna be here for you.
I'd like to get your number, man.
I'm gonna give you my number. I'm gonna give you my number. Here's my card.
Like I said, uh, today I'm gonna, I'm gonna make a change. I have to.
Yeah.
Um, because I don't want to die out there behind them bushes sleeping on them dirty blankets over there.
So that's where you sleep at over there?
No, I sleep right Right there behind the bushes.
You sleep right here?
No trespassing, but that car is pulling my blankets and my—
Wow.
And my stuff.
Wow.
I just—
Where's your family?
Uh, my mom's died. My, my brother is in prison. Uh, my sister is just a nasty person.
Yeah, so you got to repair that relationship between you and your sister.
No, I know my sister, she's, she's got her own issues.
Well, well, here's the thing. Sometimes people get upset when they see you, in their opinion, not living at your potential. And you see, you're going through certain cycles and knowing that it's been a certain amount of time.
Yeah.
But don't hold it— don't hold against her whatever your relationship has been. But listen, I got to get going, man. Dylan, let me pray for you, okay? Father, I pray for Dylan that you will give Dylan the strength he needs, the direction he needs, and place the right people in his life, even if it's me, to help Dylan turn his life completely around. I want to see Dylan life become a testimony to other people that are homeless or on drugs or incarcerated. Maybe one day you could do for him what you're doing for me and make him a motivational speaker and an inspiration to others. I ask these things in the name of your son Jesus. Amen. God bless you, Dylan. You got my number, man.
Yeah.
All right, it's okay to call me.
Okay.
All right.
I definitely will, man.
Yeah. You're welcome. I say people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. God bless you, Dylan, brother. Go get you some— something to eat, all right?
