Do Homeless People Have It Figured Out?

Do you ever sit at a stop signal and see the homeless person with a sign and wonder how they got there? What happened so bad in life that put them on the street, in poverty, open to the elements and begging for their next meal and drink?
I was bored at work the other night and was thinking. I thought how I hate my job, what things I need to get rid of before the move, what things to keep. I was thinking of what bills needed to be paid that week and what ones I was just going to pay early to get them out of the way. In my mind I was budgeting the move, the groceries and entertainment money out of my next paycheck. SO many things going through my head and secretly wishing that I had no care in the world. I thought to myself, "If I were homeless I would not have to worry about any of this." This caused my next thought, "Are we the stupid people working to attain things we want, in turn attaining things we don't want (like bills), when all we really want is simplicity? Do homeless people have it all figured out?"
Ok, run with me on this. Imagine being homeless. You can roam where ever you'd like. People avoid you because they think you are crazy. You get a spiffy cart from somewhere and fill it with all your immediate needs as well as cans and bottles to recycle (see, some homeless are more 'green' then most of us!). You get all the exercise you need to stay fit and all the fresh air to be healthy. You can play in the park all day long and dine on any food you want (as long as you don't mind someone's left overs) depending on what dumpster you want to jump into.
Sure it has its downsides too. It can get cold on the street. Someone else who is more crazy can come up and cut you. You will always wear hand-me-down clothing, and you may not always smell the freshest, but take all that away and WHAT A LIFE!
Is there a way to do both? Live respectably and freely at the same time? Can we have all we really need and be happy with that? Can we suppress our human need to attain things? I think if there were, some of us would have already figured it out and be living that way. I think some already are, but as for me, I could not live like that, but secretly wish I could.

Give Someone A Hug

I think we underestimate the power of affection. We need it, our family needs it, our friends need it, and even sometimes near strangers need it. The power of a hug is amazing.

The other day I had a friend over for dinner. I noticed that she was not quite herself just as I was not quite myself. It seems we had similar dilemmas. We are both moving soon and our partners are not proving the most concerned about the details. This is probably because she and I have made most of the arrangements, done most of the research and have taken the burden of stress on our shoulders merely our of being control freaks and wanting to make sure everything is done and done right. This is not a time to drop the ball on anything. We talked about almost everything except our moves. She spend her days off cuddled up to a book and a bottle or 2 of wine. I spent my last few days off watching TV, thinking of working out and thinking of packing. We were both avoiding the move in someway and releasing the burden, which was obviously not helping our inner-being. After eating and some venting, then some cleaning up, she started to walk out of the kitchen. I stopped her, brought her back and gave her a nice big hug. I think it was more therapeutic for me than it was for her, but I am sure it helped each of us the same. The loneliness left, the mood changed, and, I am sure the chocolate raspberry martinis helped, but we were more in sync than we had been all night. We finished up by a quick decision to play (and ultimately not win at) BINGO.

What is my point to this rambling? Pay attention to each others needs! Recognize when someone needs something! Give a hug freely and often; it can do you a bit of good too! (Make it a real nice big bear hug...squeeze and hold. Throw your head into the shoulder! Make the most of it. It is cheap caring therapy!)

Weather Change

These past few days the weather has been beautiful! We spent the past 2 nights outdoors, roaming around. It gave me a glimpse of what I really want to enjoy on a daily basis. Being outdoors relaxed me, freed me and made me want to be outside even more. I cannot wait to be in a city where outdoor activities are more prevalent. There is something missing being inside all the time. TV is mesmerizing, but not very stimulating. It is entertaining, but often stale. The computer can only entertain for so long. Reading bores me. Give me the breeze, a coffee and a nice walk. Let have stimulating conversation and I am in heaven! I guess life can be what you make it, how you want it and better than what I think it is right now....which is stagnant. Let me head off here and go get some fresh air! Later!