I choose Humanitarianism.

I had a completely different topic scheduled for this week's blog but decided that this one may be a bit more important (or at least it seemed to be more present for me this week).  

For a long time, Rob and I have volunteered at various organizations.  Personally, we have always found organizations that we believe in or missions that we align with.  To be honest, there are quite a few organizations and missions that we are passionate about but we try to narrow our focus to maximize our efforts.  A big focus for us has been homeless hospitality and assistance.  In Milwaukee, we worked with Repairers of the Breach, Riverwest Food Pantry and Guest House to name a few.  When we moved to Seattle we dove right into volunteering and found a great group of people to help provide and handout food to the homeless every Sunday.  Seattle's community efforts for the homeless population have grown wildly over the last 10+ years.  There are people and organizations that help provide food for lunch and dinner, seven days a week--seven(!)  The Seattle council has taken extraordinary measures to improve the respect for homeless and/or backpackers and ensure their well-being; even passing a measure prohibiting harassment or hate crimes.  They formed a 10-year plan to end homelessness and put forth $46 million each year to help make that happen. They have created what's called "Tent City"; it is a place that provides temporary housing for homeless or hikers by using temporary structures (tents).  Seattle has also generated Operation Sack Lunch, a homeless feeding program which Rob and I now volunteer with.

When talking with people about our volunteer work, I have noticed that there is quite a stereotype surrounding the homeless population and I continuously strive to prove that society shouldn't read a book by its cover.  Perhaps we have read something or were told by someone that homeless people are dangerous and dirty or bad people with poor intentions.  Perhaps we were told that they are just "sucking from the teet" or living off the life of hard-working people.  Well, speaking first-hand from meeting and befriending quite a number of homeless people, I'll tell you that it's just not true. Sure, yes, sometimes they don't have the freshest body odor or may be dirty, but that's understandable...have you ever backpacked or hiked for a week straight without a hot shower?!  Yep, you smell.  You don't have the resources to ensure that you'll smell good after hoofing your 80lb backpack around every day, do you?  I think that's completely understandable, no?!  As for dangerous...isn't anyone technically dangerous?  We've read or heard in the news plenty of times where the story starts..."He was a blue collar business man and wonderful family man with 3 kids and a wife.  We never would've predicted that he would've done something like this..." Dateline anyone?!  Again, reading the book by the cover.  

Most often, in my experience, homeless people are the most grateful people I have ever met.  They force me to step back and take record of my life.  If they can live and survive with little to no resources; why am I living with so many?  I've learned through training that most homeless people are not looking for money, they're looking for respect and support to get on their feet again. The biggest stereotype, in my opinion, is that they are looking for pity or sympathy and are unwilling to do anything to move themselves forward in this world [or community].  That is simply not the case and if it were, why are we not setting the example, and instead, complaining that this is who they supposedly are?  While there are those few that have gotten stung by the substance abuse bug, there are a lot who are part of a terrible cyclical pattern in their relation; that they unfortunately can't escape from.  For others, it's honestly just where they'd like to be (live) and they demand nothing but are grateful for anything.  One young man that I met, lost his job and most of the family around him due to illness and estrange.  He now has very little money and few people to rely on for support.  Until he finds another job, this is his home.  I can completely relate to that as I currently don't have a job and it's proving to take longer than expected to retrieve another.  I am blessed that I not only have Rob to help me until I find another job, but I have an amazing support group a.k.a. my immediate family. (Shout out--I am beyond grateful every single day!!)  If, however, I did not have that support group either because of illness in a family member [that couldn't help me] or death of family members, I would be in the same place.  

We've all seen the people who stand on the corner at a stoplight with a sign asking for something, perhaps it's money or food and perhaps that's just what they want.  Aren't we all allowed to want something?  Most of the time, I feel they are the most honest and even include what your money (if they receive it) will pay for; i.e.: booze, drugs, etc.  I also feel that they are probably at a different stage in their homelessness and other things are more important to them and who are we to judge?  They are not forcing you to give them money or food but they are also not asking for judgement or abuse of any kind.  They are people just like you and I; a person who deserves just as much respect as the next one.  We don't know anyone's story until we ask or communicate.  What happened to pure care of another human being?  Yes, someone who is just trying to survive in this world like you and me...  I used to work in an environment that was a luxury service provider.  (I am sharing this next story with you to show a point and hopefully I will not offend anyone.)  I worked in an environment where I would, on occasion, be yelled at (yes yelled at) because I couldn't get them in for their scheduled brow wax due to their tardiness of their appointment time and the service provider was completely booked back-to-back with many other guests to serve.  I know the guest wasn't mad at me when they were yelling; maybe there were other things going on in their life or they had a bad day.  I certainly wasn't going to judge them but instead do the best that I could to ensure their satisfaction in the moment.  I always had this weird out-of-body experience during those moments though because I thought, "Is this really what you are upset about right now? Really? This? This "luxury" service that you can't get done today [but probably tomorrow instead] you're upset with? ...Like, you do realize that $25 could help feed a small population of people right?!..." Now, who am I to even think that or judge?  This person could be an extreme donor of the community who supports many efforts with their time and money but it seems a bit oxymoronic, don't you think?!  Believe me, I am not perfect and have gotten upset about things as well, I am human after all, but I do my best and seek to understand first and certainly wouldn't yell while doing it (unless you're my husband...sometimes there may or may not be a louder volume from my voice...sorry honey!).    

I have always been a "people-watcher" and find it funny that none of us want to talk to each other.  I mean, whether we're standing in a line waiting for our coffee or passing each other on the street.  No one wants to lift their head from their device to have a conversation, a real conversation with a human instead of a computer; yet we all want to "connect" in the virtual world.  It's absolutely hilarious to me.  This goes for the homeless person sitting on a bench in the park too.  Why don't we say "hi" or give them a smile?  We pass them as if they aren't human or part of society; they don't deserve our respect and why?  We are all flesh and blood living in this wild world.  Some of us driving BMWs and carrying the latest iPhone, others driving a suitcase and carrying the latest obtained item to keep warm.  Regardless of our status, we have all gotten to this amazing life and why not help each other out or at the very least, communicate with each other?  It's amazing what you'd find out.  I often ask myself how it was possible that I ended up with this life.  I could've easily been born into a much different situation, but I wasn't.  So what will I do with this privilege?...