..National Homeless Youth Awareness Month! Just established this year; with our support, it can continue annually. Ourvoices can bring annual attention to this important issue!? Your signature alone isimportant (THANX to you who already followed the link in my sidebar ♥) yet there are other ways to help as well:
Right now, there are over one million young people living on the streets of the US. Many have been abused or neglected and left with no choice but to beg, steal, or sell their bodies to survive.
Virgin Mobile, with the help of Virgin Unite, wants to change that. The RE*Generation is our effort to empower a generation to help its own. We’re bringing together organizations that care about homeless youth and connecting them with young people who want to help.
And we’re making it easy for our customers to take an active role and get involved — through donating, volunteering, and even text messaging and downloading.
With The RE*Generation, one person really can make a difference. Please join us [after signing below] and take action now.
(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
~ Mother Teresa ~
Whether you’ve already celebrated, aren’t celebrating or are just looking forward to the food: Happy Thanksgiving!
Ultimately a harvest festival, it’s appreciation for the necessities of life over the niceties that’s always been at the core of Thanksgiving in all its forms. It’s also a symbol of hope; this country’s First Thanksgiving had a cooperative spirit that is slowly but hopefully surely being reawakened.
When fortunate enough to be with my family on this holiday, I ask each of them to share something for which they’re thankful.. As you are my surrogate family, I’m asking the same & can hardly wait to read your comments! It’s quite clear by now that having a home dominates my thanks-giving currently. Having lost mine at the holidays last year, regaining one at the holidays this year has a significance that’s not so much about the holidays themselves but due more to such events being centering by nature. A dear friend with whom we’d lost touch but who had stayed with us for a time, e-mailed me in response to my thoughts on home:
I write to let you know that in the decade since we last spoke you guys stand out uniquely–and I see from all the available on-line materials you have generated, that uniqueness becomes ever more you. I write because specifically The Rhodes’ was the last place I got a sense of the Home I believe you write about–where love manifests–love as wholeness–love as relation with creation…
This touches on the fact that I’m also forming a home here; with you.. So, while I’m abundantly thankful for my wee studio, I’m utterly & ever-thankful for my growing online family. I’m admittedly thankful too that I get an actual Thanksgiving meal today with RhodesTer before he heads to his hotel of employ. Thus, I’ll raise a glass to you as I eat more than I have in a very long time.
(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“He who thanks but with the lips Thanks but in part; The full, the true Thanksgiving Comes from the heart.”
~ John A. Shedd ~
My, my; how two weeks can disappear when your eviction from one dwelling leads to van-dwelling til a new dwelling is miraculously found but none too easily won. Having faced the physical challenges, undergone the testing of our faith & confronted the philosophical conundrums; here we happily & unapologetically are.
If coffee’s my lifeblood, perhaps the internet’s my life force.. It went away soon after I posted “Simplicity isn’t simple” & my time til it did was spent looking for a home. Of course, none of those leads directly led to where we live. Speaking of where we live (what an excellent if simple phrase indeed), my time since has been spent making it a home.
Not to be too punny but that would admittedly be an easier process if we had anything to spend. My favorite part of any move is the opportunity to be rid of yet more baggage. That continued purging is slowing the settling in but will be well worth it in the end. Hopefully, by the time things are sorted, there’ll even be something to put them in or on.
Back to the Simplicity post & its amazing comments to which I was unable to reply — til now: Seldom have I felt quite so understood, much less supported. Truth be told, I hadn’t even realized just how much I needed the catharsis your comments proved to be. I wasn’t looking for sympathy & your empathetic replies show that you know that.
How dare someone imply that I am selfish to not pursue wealth. I’d like to know their ulterior motives (i.e. sell me real estate or something else OR…support their own ideology). I am closer to other human beings right now than I EVER was when I was working 12 hour days to make money so I could live in a fucking secured, gated community condo. Blech.
The once friend offering gems of wisdon’t does indeed sell real estate. His suggestion that the need to budget “doesn’t allow you to do much for those around” is both preposterous & insulting. Who’s to say what little change we have to give someone in need is any less a gift. Do those with more to give actually give more? Go ahead, just try to put a value on my time. That fact that I always have & will give of myself is unchanged by my financial state.
The richest person in the world could also be the poorest person. Joy comes from living your life to the fullest, following your dreams, being who God intends you to be. Some people are meant to live in a nice home while others are meant to live in a hut but both can be equally happy and successful.
Allowing that it’s a nice hut.. Seriously, though, all the trappings of success cannot overcome any inner lack but success of being can overwhelm external lack. My grandparents allowed me to pick out the charm for a necklace they were buying me when I was significantly younger than now & I chose “Spoiled Rotten.” As contradictory as that may seem to who I claim to be, think again for it was love I was spoiled by.
The place we’re moving into is about 300 square feet.. it has a bed, a table with two chairs and a patio.. and we couldn’t be happier about it. I think that happiness and contentment is worth more than all those material things. Call me selfish.
If only it were the lack of square footage that were the exaggeration here — writers can’t help but be colorful in their descriptions — but it’s the bed. While I admittedly would like an actual bed, at least I don’t have to walk aroundfoam padding. Not only is happiness worth far more than anything material but even the happiest of people are not necessarily content. We count ourselves blessed. Even as we look forward to a few niceties along the way, we are wholly content with the waiting & what we’re waiting with.
Funny, I was just wondering today, why you ended up living there, surrounded by so many people like him? I hate Southern California… Please, keep creating, connecting with others and making us all laugh and think. The world needs more people like you — not more Mercedes driving bimbos who think that they’re making the world a better place by disposing of their cash on some bullshit carbon credits or an annual holiday donation to the local homeless shelter.
Being California kids & in love with the ocean, we had little choice in the matter but it is interesting that we’ve ended up in the desert. Now that we’re surrounded by far fewer bimbos & in a place of incredible energy, both creation & connection are ripe for the picking. We have no greater desire than to make others, as well as ourselves, laugh & think so cannot thank you enough for the encouragement!
First of all, I love the Walrus/Carpenter lead-in. There’s nothing quite so mind-clearing as a few hours spent with Lewis Carroll. .. I’ll be thinking of you this week as you take step number 793,621 in your journey.
Lewis Carroll always has been a favored source for both perspectives & consequences, not to mention perspectives on consequences. It’s not always clear what’s safe to eat or drink nor what side of the looking glass I’m on yet I’d rather take the journey — even if it’s down the rabbit hole — than stare in the mirror. What do I win on the millionth step? The discovery of what or if will make it worth the taking.
I don’t write as eloquently as both of you, nor necessarily those that have commented before me. I wish you both the best of luck/happiness/good fortune (in whatever form it takes) in your move.
Eloquence, smelloquence; but thank you. The smell of insincere eloquence is quite rank but sincerity takes on an eloquence of its own. Your wishes are the stuff that sustains us. Granted, there’s still a need for some sustenance of nutritional value but, no worries, that’ll come too with a little good fortune. Simply having such a dynamic cheering section, as found herein, makes everything possible.
(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“When we realize that the best we have to bring to any situation is being just who we are, we relax.”
~ Anne Wilson Schaef ~
I have a deep-seated ambivalence toward home. Those who’ve peopled my homes have for the most part been a bit of heaven on Earth which is what I think home essentially is when achieved. Yet, home is also something I strove to survive. My grandparents provided my first home & they continue to be the [...]
“The time has come,” the Walrus said.. but let’s leave shoes, ships & such aside for now. For us, it’s time to make the impending move. We do feel a bit like oysters to our friend-turned-landlord’s walrus, especially as he’ll be visiting this strip of sand shortly. Finding our own wee shell is quite the [...]
This just in..Wacky Couple Throws Caution To The Wind, Heads North Despite OddsWe've made our ultimate someday a reality; San Francisco is finally home.. Determined to see our dream thru, we're here with little to go on & even less in the way of funds but we know how to make a dollar stretch so any few dollars you can spare will make a world of difference! In fact, it just may be what enables us to get an apartment!?(|_|*ch33rs*|_|)
“Don’t curse the darkness – light a candle.” — Chinese Proverb (we all have light to lend & light sources to draw from, find what ignites you) ~=~=-=~=-=-=-=~=-=~=~ “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.” — Robert Alden ~=~=-=~=-=-=-=~=-=~=~ “We all walk in the dark and each of us [ […]
“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” — William James (tho’ts not questioned are biases) ~=~=-=~=-=-=-=~=-=~=~ “Two quite opposite qualities equally bias our minds – habits and novelty.” — Jean de la Bruyère — “Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from th […]
Season’s Greetings! May your blessings outnumber your difficulties, the moments of joy outshine those of frustration & contentment eclipse any disappointment.. (|_|*to miracles in the making*|_|) Whatever this season may or may not mean to you, it’s an opportunity I encourage you to make the most of.. My Xmas post is a great place to start: Happy Dam […]
“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.” — Demosthenes (each moment seized creates pathways to new possibilities) ~=~=-=~=-=-=-=~=-=~=~ “I held a moment in my hand, brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a tiny sliver of one hour. I dripped it carelessly, Ah! I didn’t know, I held opportunity.” — Hazel Lee “Now i […]
Everything comes too late for those who only wait.” — Elbert Hubbard (there aren’t perfect moments, just moments perfectly seized; grab one) ~=~=-=~=-=-=-=~=-=~=~ “So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it […]
“Never let yesterday use up too much of today.” — Will Rogers (the most important moment’s the 1 you’re in.. it’s the only 1 you can change) ~=~=-=~=-=-=-=~=-=~=~ “Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating your next moment. That is what’s real.” — Sara Paddison Presence Where is your mind right now? Are […]
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A simple reply ~_^
by coffeesister · 2 comments
in C'est MOI
My, my; how two weeks can disappear when your eviction from one dwelling leads to van-dwelling til a new dwelling is miraculously found but none too easily won. Having faced the physical challenges, undergone the testing of our faith & confronted the philosophical conundrums; here we happily & unapologetically are.
If coffee’s my lifeblood, perhaps the internet’s my life force.. It went away soon after I posted “Simplicity isn’t simple” & my time til it did was spent looking for a home. Of course, none of those leads directly led to where we live. Speaking of where we live (what an excellent if simple phrase indeed), my time since has been spent making it a home.
Not to be too punny but that would admittedly be an easier process if we had anything to spend. My favorite part of any move is the opportunity to be rid of yet more baggage. That continued purging is slowing the settling in but will be well worth it in the end. Hopefully, by the time things are sorted, there’ll even be something to put them in or on.
Back to the Simplicity post & its amazing comments to which I was unable to reply — til now: Seldom have I felt quite so understood, much less supported. Truth be told, I hadn’t even realized just how much I needed the catharsis your comments proved to be. I wasn’t looking for sympathy & your empathetic replies show that you know that.
Omyword! wrote (amidst more):
The once friend offering gems of wisdon’t does indeed sell real estate. His suggestion that the need to budget “doesn’t allow you to do much for those around” is both preposterous & insulting. Who’s to say what little change we have to give someone in need is any less a gift. Do those with more to give actually give more? Go ahead, just try to put a value on my time. That fact that I always have & will give of myself is unchanged by my financial state.
Sheryl wrote:
Allowing that it’s a nice hut.. Seriously, though, all the trappings of success cannot overcome any inner lack but success of being can overwhelm external lack. My grandparents allowed me to pick out the charm for a necklace they were buying me when I was significantly younger than now & I chose “Spoiled Rotten.” As contradictory as that may seem to who I claim to be, think again for it was love I was spoiled by.
Rhodester wrote (amidst more):
If only it were the lack of square footage that were the exaggeration here — writers can’t help but be colorful in their descriptions — but it’s the bed. While I admittedly would like an actual bed, at least I don’t have to walk around foam padding. Not only is happiness worth far more than anything material but even the happiest of people are not necessarily content. We count ourselves blessed. Even as we look forward to a few niceties along the way, we are wholly content with the waiting & what we’re waiting with.
René wrote (amidst more):
Being California kids & in love with the ocean, we had little choice in the matter but it is interesting that we’ve ended up in the desert. Now that we’re surrounded by far fewer bimbos & in a place of incredible energy, both creation & connection are ripe for the picking. We have no greater desire than to make others, as well as ourselves, laugh & think so cannot thank you enough for the encouragement!
Lorna wrote (amidst more):
Lewis Carroll always has been a favored source for both perspectives & consequences, not to mention perspectives on consequences. It’s not always clear what’s safe to eat or drink nor what side of the looking glass I’m on yet I’d rather take the journey — even if it’s down the rabbit hole — than stare in the mirror. What do I win on the millionth step? The discovery of what or if will make it worth the taking.
Maureen wrote:
Eloquence, smelloquence; but thank you.
The smell of insincere eloquence is quite rank but sincerity takes on an eloquence of its own. Your wishes are the stuff that sustains us. Granted, there’s still a need for some sustenance of nutritional value but, no worries, that’ll come too with a little good fortune. Simply having such a dynamic cheering section, as found herein, makes everything possible.
(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“When we realize that the best we have to bring to any situation is being just who we are, we relax.”
~ Anne Wilson Schaef ~
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