Do you ever think of yourself being homeless?

[Vladimir]

The board's present situation index, measuring how shoppers feel about the current economic climate conditions, fell 123.4 in August from 134.2 in July.

Well that's better than the 567.8 rise in housing prices here .

[Celtic_Guardian]

I've been having a lot of dreams about the end of high school lately, maybe because im going to college in two days?

[Togakure]

Had it not been for my family (my father and brother) and a few True friends, I would have experienced homelessness personally. There is bitter truth to the saying: "destroy a man's place in the world and you destroy the man." Now I am learning how to live with far less than I had before. I much better appreciate the life I had, and, the life I have. Before, I would walk past those who asked for coins with a cold heart and refuse them--"get a job," etc.. I remember having a similar attitude towards them as have been expressed by patrons here. Now, though I can't always give them money, I treat them with kindness and respect.

Imagine losing your job, the respect and involvement of family and friends, your self-respect, your things .... Self-actualization, social status, etc., don't matter much when you are cold, filthy, starving, and alone--Mazlow's Needs Hierarchy lived. We who are better to do take so much for granted. I think it's very difficult to relate to unless you've been there, or come close.

There was another thread here: what do you most fear?, etc. I would have to say, having come so close, that being homeless and alone is what I most fear at this point in my life. It was the faith and active help of those who still loved me that kept me alive. They were also responsible for helping me find the will within myself to get up and start over. It took a very long time. Ironically, during my recovery period, I spent most of my time in a virtual world--this one, with my friends here in the TW community. In a way, my virtual friends helped to keep me alive too, because I wasn't truly alone. You know who you are, and I thank you from my Heart for that.

We can walk through Life putting love and kindness out there, or we can look to ourselves and invest only in those who'll likely generate a return investment, or we can look to ourselves and to hell with everyone else. What's your choice?

Mine is compassion, kindness, Love. There will never be enough of these in this world.

Honor

Selfless open Heart
She gives all she has to give
then she gives some more

The right thing, he does
when no one else is looking
no matter, the cost

Her sincerity
What you see is what she is
such beauty, sublime

He rewards himself
unswerving rightmindedness
in the path of death

Always uphold Truth
Unconditionally, Love
even when it hurts

Love for family
Love for friends and foes alike
Love for all the world

Homeless, in darkness
the coins, warm smile, silent tears
Grace of the Valar

Leave this humble world
a bit better than it was
in our special way

- Toga, 11/24/03