Selfless Acts of Mercy
What makes life easier for you on any given day?
You might be amused by seemingly simple things you could do to make our life better, given the opportunity to excercise the knowledge— or not.
IMPORTANT! I cannot stress enough— these are FREE ACTS. For many of us, actually, most of us—panhandling is not an option. The statistical breakdown is part of the reason. The demographic for those individuals who are homeless in San Luis Oispo County is approximately:
30% children & youth / 30% women / 20% veterans / 20% transient (passing thru)
The primary reason I personally don’t panhandle is— my life is easier than most homeless. I’m a part-time “couch person”, living with my new extended family.
I provide housekeeping and companionship to an elderly couple in exchange for a safe, quiet place to sleep and meals. I camp or sleep in my vehicle the other part. They’re on a fixed income and home is a small beach-style cottage. I don’t want to be a financial burden to them. They’ve become dear friends who I love and am loved in return.
JUST BEING EVERYDAY PEOPLE …Some of us just want to be everyday people. In fact, I know you have probably heard this somewhere but it bears repeating. You wouldn’t know I am homeless unless I elected to volunteer this personal information.
I shower every or other day, wear clean clothes, style my hair and care about myself—hmmm, ALOT like you.
So, that said, please refrain from staring when meeting me in the parking lot of my favorite convenience store, then stand— waiting my turn in line. I just woke up without a bathroom mirror and am unkempt. Yes, I am getting my morning’s first cup of coffee on the way to use their toilet, sink and bathroom mirror. I’ll be virtually unrecognizable to you as “homeless” in under 10 minutes.
Please, don’t help me start my day that way.
How would you feel? I think that’s a reasonable benchmark for my interaction with you. The golden rule applied each and every day— how would you want to be treated?
We don’t wear our appearance as a badge of courage. Although, I have thought for a long time, (years to be exact) that more people should be proud of having been here, living without a standard home— not made to feel humiliated by what is our temporary or permanent condition— with just ”the look”.
There are people who must practice the look of disdain in the mirror. It’s unmistakeable. I would not waste my time and would not expect to reach your bias with these few words— However, the most predominant look is: You just got caught staring and are simply embarrassed—so, you look away like you were burned.
Consider practicing this, “Good morning, how are you doing?” or even, “Rough night?” Some nights are exceptionally rough. Please, acknowledge me and help me start my day with positive, person to person— humane interaction. Any given morning, this is a wonderful gift for any of us. For me it’s a lifesaver.
Being homeless is the most difficult challenge I have faced in my life.
Being homeless takes a concerted amount of bravery each and every day!
CREDIT WORTHY??? I was when I first had my accident in August of 2006. I was a newlywed whose husband felt I should clean it up before I took his name. Hindsight is truly 20/20. I didn’t know I was on a two year test drive. Until he announced one evening that it wasn’t working for him and he was filing OUR UNCONTESTED DIVORCE the following week. It was two months after the accident and a “Christian Financial Advisor” had counciled him that I was a “poor financial risk”. The BIG SURPRISE came just before our divorce was final, long after Christmas of ’06. He began dating our best friend who had been widowed during our honeymoon and we took a detour for him to conduct her husband’s
