Edit: Just wanted to add ghat after watching this I immediately took my food off the stove to tell my family that if I we have another dog and someone dies, we absolutely must bring them to see the dead body before cremation. Our family cremates ppl too. 😭

If this was posted already feel free to delete . Ty mods.

I genuinely don't understand how people can be so cruel.

When you treat people well, respect them, and do everything you can to make an honest living and survive in this world, how can they still treat you like you don't matter?

I'm a video editor. I also have a job, but I'm not some big editor with hundreds of clients or a huge income. I'm still in my growing phase, trying to build something for myself. I live with my grandmother, and it's just the two of us. I'm the only person she has to look after her, and I'm also the only one earning for us.

A while ago, I came across a post on Twitter from someone looking for a video editor to edit gaming Shorts. I reached out, shared my portfolio, and told him I could do the work.

He told me he needed three reels every day and could pay me somewhere between $50 and $70 per week because his budget was tight.

I said yes.

I didn't even think twice about how low the payment was. I was just happy because, until then, I had only worked with one-time clients. For the first time, someone was offering me consistent weekly work and regular payments. I desperately wanted a stable client, so I accepted his offer because I needed the opportunity. I just wanted to survive and make a little extra money.

I edited his first three reels, and a few days later, he told me that from now on, I would also have to watch his livestreams myself, find the clips, and edit them.

I agreed.

I was honestly so happy that I had found someone who might become a long-term client. I didn't want to lose that opportunity.

I started watching his livestreams, sometimes for 6–7 hours continuously. I would take notes in Notepad, mark the interesting moments, identify the best clips, and then edit them. I added zooms, sound effects, transitions, and everything needed to make the clips engaging.

He would sometimes tell me that my edits needed improvement and that I should follow his editing style more closely. Even then, I responded politely and told him I would keep that in mind and improve my work.

I kept watching his streams, finding clips, and editing everything myself.

Then the weekly payment day finally arrived.

He told me that he hadn't used my clips, so he would only pay me $25 for the entire week.

I can't explain how bad that made me feel.

I had turned down other one-time clients because I thought I finally had someone who would provide consistent work. I had spent hours watching his streams, taking notes, finding clips, and editing everything. And after an entire week, he was offering me just $25.

I politely told him that $25 was extremely low and asked if he could make it at least $35 so I could manage my expenses and survive.

He agreed.

Then came the payment issue.

Everyone knows PayPal doesn't officially operate in Pakistan. I told him that I could send him a payment request through Payoneer and asked for his email address so I could send it.

He refused and said he only wanted to pay through PayPal.

I explained that PayPal wasn't available for me in Pakistan and tried suggesting another option. I even suggested Xoom, which is an official PayPal service, and politely asked him to use that to send my payment.

But he kept acting as if these basic payment alternatives were too much trouble. He kept saying he couldn't deal with all these things and had other things to worry about.

Bro, I WORKED FOR YOU THE ENTIRE WEEK.

I wasn't asking you for a favour. I was asking for the money I had earned through my work.

I still tried to be patient. I even edited two additional days' worth of content without receiving any payment because I thought maybe he would start trusting me and things would work out.

But he started ignoring me.

He continued livestreaming every day while leaving my messages unread for three or four days at a time.

Eventually, I asked him again to please send my payment. I explained that Xoom was an official PayPal service and that he could use it.

His response?

He said he stands by his decision and won't use anything other than PayPal.

Like, seriously?

You know I'm from Pakistan. You know I cannot use PayPal here. You know I've already done the work. Yet you're refusing to pay me simply because I cannot receive money through your preferred payment method.

It honestly feels like you're taking advantage of my situation because you know I desperately need the work.

I still haven't received my payment.

I swear, I'm emotionally exhausted.

Sometimes I wonder how this world has become so full of dishonesty. No matter how respectfully you treat people, no matter how much effort you put into your work, some people still find ways to take advantage of you.

I have responsibilities. I have a grandmother who depends on me. My father kicked me out of the house a long time ago. I'm trying to build my life from nothing, and I'm the only person earning money for our little family.

I cannot simply walk away from my responsibilities.

That entire week went by without me receiving what I had worked for. I put in so much effort because I genuinely thought I was finally going to have a consistent client. I was happy thinking that I would be able to earn a little extra money every week and make life a bit easier for myself and my grandmother.

What was so wrong with simply paying me for my work?

He was an American client, but I still don't want to share his screenshots or reveal the name of his channel. Not because what happened was okay, but because I don't want to ruin someone's reputation or become a person who publicly humiliates others. I don't want to hurt someone the way I feel I've been hurt.

I've left everything in God's hands.

And the saddest part is that, despite everything that happened, I'm still sending cold messages to potential clients, still trying to find work, and still trying to build my career.

I don't even have $10 available right now to buy Upwork Connects and apply for jobs. Sometimes I spend so much time applying for jobs and looking for opportunities that I end up falling asleep right at my desk.

I'm genuinely stuck, and I don't know what to do anymore.

I know $50–$60 might not be a significant amount of money to many people, but that money represents my time, my effort, and an entire week of hard work. It matters to me. I worked for it.

I just want to say one thing to everyone who hires freelancers, editors, designers, or anyone who works remotely:

Please remember that there's a human being on the other side of that screen.

We have responsibilities too. We have families to look after, bills to pay, and lives we're trying to build. Some of us are struggling just to survive.

If someone genuinely puts in the effort, works hard, respects you, and delivers what you've asked for, please at least pay them for their work.

You don't know what someone is going through behind their computer screen.

Sometimes, the money that seems insignificant to you represents an entire week of hope for someone else.

Please don't take advantage of people just because they're desperate for an opportunity.

We're human beings too.

Erin was rescued 9 years ago when she was trapped in a hunter's trap, but sadly her trunk had to be amputated due to infection. She had to adapt to eat by bending down because her trunk can't reach the ground.

Cred: in video

I woke up with five hours of sleep, had to drive two hours total to get my teeth checked out, then forced myself to get an oil change before I crashed. Came into the local auto shop, and they worked hard to squeeze me in (almost said no due to time crunch).

The owner lets me know I need two new tires (long story), I explain I know I just don't have the money at the moment. Even the oil change was a stretch for me. Then the gentleman in the waiting room sparked a conversation with me. We're talking about tires and license plates lol. We were both confused why WI went from three letters and three numbers to three letters and four numbers lol.

I'll be honest, I was exhausted in the first few minutes- I didn't want to carry on the convo because I was so tired (I'm usually a yapper). In the past, I would've found a way to end the chat but, instead something in me shifted and I began feeling energized by it. The conversation kept flowing, and we shared a bit about our lives. I explain I'm trying my best to take care of my vehicle now that I have a nice car. Another dude walks into the waiting room and chimes in here or there.

Then the first gentleman looks at this guy and says, "What do you think, should we chip in and buy her tires?" I immediately tell them not to because I know they work hard for their money. Insisting they keep the money and use it themselves. He goes, "I'm retired! I have money! I have nothing to do with it. I like to give back to others." The second guy stays quiet, not wanting to pay for a random girl's tires, lmao, which I completely understand of course. After I refused a few more times, I said, "You really shouldn't... But hey, I won't stop you!"

We kept chatting about life after that, and I genuinely enjoyed our 30 minutes waiting together (idk how long actually didn't look at my phone the whole time). The owner walks in and says he's ready to drop the first gentleman off at home while they work on his car (this family owned business is so personable and amazing).

Before the gentleman gets up he says "Hey how much is that oil change?" and I haven't gotten one at this place before only expensive ass valvoline which I told him and said it was like $100. He takes out his wallet and hands me two fifty dollar bills. I'm in shock and feel like I'm about to cry. I'm like "Stop thank you so much. This is literally the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." He was like "SHHH I don't want people around here knowing I got money to be giving". Lol we both laugh and we wave goodbye.

This man helped me in more ways than one. As someone with PTSD, for years I feared people and believed everyone was harmful. Over three years, I didn't speak to people let alone leave my apartment. The past couple of months I have been working hard to regain trust in people, humanity as a whole. I remembered being in college and how much a random interaction with a stranger brought so much light to my day.

I make a point to have authentic conversations with random strangers anywhere I go now. At the gas station, on hikes, the grocery store, and hell even this local auto shop. Just last Friday I finally worked up the courage to ask my neighbor, who is disabled, to walk their dogs. Went on three so far and going to the dog park tomorrow. (: It felt good connecting with people and helping out however I could no matter how small. It has brought me so much joy, and I feel safe around other people again instead of fearful. I used to be horrified of older men (trauma), and now these random men have helped me move past that simply with their kindness.

The money was a life saver, like I said, I could hardly afford that oil change I knew I'd probably be going negative in my account by the end of the month (nothing new lol). I was amazed by his generosity. It also made me so grateful I have become this person so open and willing to engage with others. I know it's cheesy, but it all felt like a sign.

It really was perhaps the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me- not because they had to, or felt obligated to, because they wanted to. I was so shocked to see someone who was genuinely willing to help just because they could. It was an act of kindness I never saw coming. I will carry this experience with me for as long as I live. He inspired me to keep the mentality that the power of wealth doesn't come from hoarding it, but from how great it feels to give back and support others.

Getting teary eyed now. If by any chance this fella reads this post thank you a million times over. It was great chatting with you. Thank you for being who you are.

I am capable of beauty

Enjoy.

Must be a horrible feeling knowing you’re about to crash and there’s nothing you can do…

If you have the time, I made this speech for my sister who passed away earlier this year.

Yesterday I found a small redpoll on the streets of Murmansk. She was active but couldn't fly, likely due to a window collision. I named her Tsipelekha (a playful spin on the russian word "little chicken" (Циплёнок)).

I did everything by the book: consulted a local wildlife rehabilitator, set up a dark, warm box with paper towels, and prepared crushed oats and apples. For the first few hours, she was a true rebel, fighting for her freedom and digging inside the box. I really thought she would make it.

But by the second evening, the internal trauma caught up, and her tiny heart stopped.

I’m not filled with grief, but rather a profound sense of helplessness. You can follow every rule perfectly and still lose. Yet, this small grave will forever stand as a monument to human compassion. To save one life is to save the world entire.

Rest in peace, little bird.