Thanksgiving Traditions.. On the Streets

 

Thanksgiving Traditions... On the Streets

Thanksgiving Day

2022

Traditions are different when you live on the street.

Especially in regard to Holiday Traditions.

But my tradition for the Holidays, when everything

is closed, remains the same, year-in, year-out.

I take a large stack of books and a few notebooks

with several writing instruments, and depending

on the weather, I will find a nice, quiet place in

nature, reading and writing the day away.

And if weather permits, spend a good bit of the

day hiking and taking in the Beauty of the

Season. The rich, Vibrant colors... the crisp

air, the seasoned wood burning from the

chimneys. Bringing a heart-nourishing

Solice to my spirit. Meditating with

every breath and every step along the way.

Having no one to share things with... having

no place to go and no place to Just BE.

Holidays hold nothing special for me, they are

just another day in the life of... living

on the streets. The only difference being

every place is closed on Holidays.

Otherwise, they are just like every day

of the year. Just quieter. The chaos

suspended for a moment...

This has been a challenging, devastating

year in so many ways. But there has also

been amazing gifts of Hope and Love.

I am trying to keep my focus on the

good that has happened, but the bad

continues to overshadow it, pulling me

in both directions simultaneously.

Actively having to focus on the good,

because the natural Default settles

on the bad. So, I am counting my

Blessings. They really add up, if you

take the time to really count them.

Enduring my 23^rd Thanksgiving outside.

Twenty-Three Seasons sitting on the

Outskirts of Society, of Humanity... of

L I F E. Twenty-Three seasons of not

being embraced by life, but rather

discarded and kicked Hard to the side.

We all face challenges. We all face battles.

I have experienced them all in this lifetime.

Which should completely clear any Karmic

Debt I have been forced to pay throughout

my life, especially my life having to live

on the streets this entire Century.

I have much to be Grateful for, which I am.

But feeling gratitude every moment when

life keeps Gut Punching me, is difficult, to

say the least. I am grateful for what I

have, and grateful to have what I need.

Another Thanksgiving on the Streets...

The Tradition Continues.

Thanksgiving Notes..

 

Thanksgiving Notes...

From a Life on the Streets...

Life can definitely take a cruel, hard turn at any

moment. And leave you reeling for the rest of

your life. I have had moments like this.

Many moments... And one of the Cruelest

I have been hit with and left with, was being forced

to live, or rather merely exist, in the shadows of

the Periphery of Society, of Humanity, and

of Life itself. Being forced out onto the

streets by and through the illegl actions from

a despicable landlord was the cruel, hard turn

I was never prepared for. And no amount

of training could prepare anyone to live

permanently without a home as I have been.

Heading into My 23^rd Holiday and Winter

Season of being forced to live on the streets. A sentence

that should be reserved only for the cruelest of

humanity as punishment for their crimes.

I no longer look forward to the Holidays, to

Winters and all the unbalanced weather.

Holidays used to hold a special place in my

heart... as the air turned more electric and pulsed

with its own heartbeat... and the Season would fill

with magic. Hearts were softened, grudges were

put aside, there was less judgement.

But that has long since passed... and the air has

become toxic with Hate and Anger, Fear and War.

A Culture that now stews and brews, marinating

in grudges and disagreements.

Spending Holidays, and endless Seasons

on the streets takes a tremendous toll on every

fiber of your being and is beyond Draining.

And there is no Celebrating... No feeling

of belonging, not involved and included,

especially when it comes to Holidays.

Holidays become just another day on the streets...

feel exactly the same as every other day of the

year. The Fairy Dust that the Holidays

used to be filled with has long since vanished and

lost its Magic. I dread Holidays now. Have for

a Long time. But I still want to believe

they hold Promise... And Hope.

That there is Always a Better

to come about at some point;

Better Circumstances, Better Living

Arrangements.... Hope that Life itself will

finally be GOOD.

Even though I have no excitement

toward the Holidays and no longer look

forward to any of them... I am Grateful

to have what I need, for the moment.

I am filled with Gratitude for all

the incredible help and support from

the Community I have received all year.

Helping me with Water, with necessities,

with my vehicle. Restoring my mobility to a

greater degree. For allowing me into their

Homes to care for their lives, their plants and

their cherished pets... Trusting me with

all they treasure. I am deeply grateful.

Living on the streets, Holidays look

nothing like the Commercialized Versions that so

many take for granted, because so many

have those same versions they adopted, so they

look and feel like what people expect.

But on the streets, there are no expectations.

No Holiday Traditions, no schedules, no

meals to make... On the streets, Holidays

are just another day unfolding like all the

others and start and end just like every day

of the year.

I am Thankful