Sunday, November 27, 2011

Makeshift Lives...



Makeshift Lives...
~Echoes of a Home~

The ugliest words in the human language are Homeless and being homeless.
 What comes to mind when the word Homeless is mentioned, in any regard? You 
immediately get an image of what you believe homeless looks like... which is 
the commercialized version, not the reality version... but have you given any 
thought to what it actually feels like, to be homeless? The stigma that automatically 
comes with the title and label... the mis-perceptions, gross judgments and 
assumptions that hold no truth. If you don't look like a walking 
trash bin and smell like a sewer, then you can't be homeless.

The stereotypes cast into roles that have never fit, trying out for a part we 
were not properly cast in. Living on the streets is challenging enough without the 
added labels and stigma attached to it, immediately cast our way even before they 
actually see us, actually set their eyes on us -- cast into roles that have never ‘fit’, 
but condemned by hear-say, not by the evidence of Truth. 
Too blind to see and too deaf to hear---

I didn’t choose to be put out here, yet I’m always being prosecuted for the 
actions of others-- it’s this response toward me that turns me ‘off’ to life-- Forcing 
myself to remember to breathe and remembering why I should bother to keep going. 
I often wonder what it is that keeps me pushing, fighting and holding on (to what..??).

Transitional Living....
When you live your life, or merely an existence of a semblance of
what once was a life, on the streets,
your life becomes mobile in the truest sense.
Everyplace and any place,
using the resources around you for your temporary housing,
becomes your residence, at least for a few minutes, perhaps a couple
days, weeks at most, before you are forced to another
destination, but not one that takes you
any place.
Carrying your 'home' with you at every moment.
And the cycle repeats. Everyday.
You become an expert at packing, as this is a daily ritual.
Camping becomes your new sport.

Walking becomes your main form of transit, no matter if your body is able
to carry you or not, you are not given the choice or the
luxury of just being for a time, allowing some healing to unfold through 
your body. Putting more miles on your feet than most people do their cars. 
People would be surprised the mileage we put on our feet when your
home is the great outdoors, they wouldn't believe the
information listed on a pedometer if we had them attached to us.
They would insist they we had somehow rigged it, as the numbers showing
could not possibly be true. Follow us then. But then anyone following us
would fall to the wayside, they could not keep up.
Beginning my mornings by meditating before the chaos of the day unfolds.
It helps prepare my mind and heart for the day to come.
My companions of the night, furry and feathered, are the most
treasured friends I have and give me reason to breathe in, and out, and try to
remember to repeat the cycle.

Life in Transit...
Not given the chance to make a home, but we have many residences.
Never knowing where you might find your self at any point of the day or night.
What city or town you will be in, not usually by choice.
How long will you be given the chance to breathe, before you are forced to move?
 How long before some home residing person calls the cops
on us just for being present?
And taking advantage of whatever resources are at your disposal at any 
given moment... a sink, I'll pull out my shampoo or toothpaste out and
get down to business. Learning to clean up in the quickest time and measuring the
time allotted, for what you will do. If I have 3-5 minutes, I can wash my hair and 
brush my teeth at the same sink, before heading out and moving on. Always having 
what I need with me, since I never know when the opportunity will 
present itself. Stayed prepared.

By Renee Bowen
Homeless since Sept. 1, 2000
© 11/2011

2 comments:

Int'ly acclaimed music educator said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Int'ly acclaimed music educator said...

Instituionalized cruelty does not discriminate. And I know that from my personal experiences, sadly... Thank you very much for giving all victims of this societal catastrophe the voice, for explaining that it is so easy for any of us to become the victims of this monster, indeed. This poetry-like, most vivid sensory description of the life in the ongoing crisis of homelessness may no longer remain unnoticed by our society! It is the result of the institutionalized blind spot among those who aspire to be in the leadership chairs of public service agencies and corporate world that reflects the societal stigma. And it must be addressed with adequate means with no further delay!!! This spotlight on the heart wrenching evidence of our communal incapacity must lead to the relevant actions of change! NOW. Suffering human being may not be forced to wait for a mentally paralyzed community leader to do their duties. Complex problems deserve complex solutions without oversimplification. Polyphonic and orchestral vision along with emotional intelligence are a must for a leader and such mental capacity must be proven in action. The ROOTS of the lack of these competencies is the result of unbalanced Education in our society, that is blind to the value of developing conceptual cognitive skills and emotional intelligence capacities thru the ancestral gift of the Arts and Music. And we as the society and as the self-respecting individuals deserve nothing less.