You may have a fresh start any moment you choose!

People never leave where they are, until they decide where they'de rather be

You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give

There are many different stories as to why people are homeless or addicted to drugs and how each individual handles it differently. For some there is a sense of content, while others are in great pain.  Circumstance may have led many to the streets. Finances, addictions, mental illness, loss, emotional pain, abuse & divorce.  What ever the reason & although we may disagree and say "well you could have gotten help" that is not for us to judge. Each person deals with his/her experiences in their own way -  it is valid to them.  You don't have to like it or live that way - but you do have a responsibility to treat these people with respect & love.     

Some choose to stay  - while others struggle daily trying to get off the street. Some land there because of drugs - others turned to addictions once they entered the streets and some have no addictions. It is a hard life and nothing comes easy.  

Take a moment to put yourself in their shoes.  Don't think it couldn't be you out there or someone you love because it could.  The easiest way for you to picture yourself there is this: if the credit system collapsed a whole lot of us would be out there tommorow.  Most people could only survive 1 month on their savings if this happened - then what? 

So now you have sold off everything you own to survive but its not enough anymore and you have nothing else - you have to sleep in the street. A situation like this resembles what some of these people have gone through. If the credit system collapsed there would be no help available to you because the world would be in such kaos.  Many of these people were in a world of kaos of their own despite the reason they ended up on the street. Maybe they didn't want help, couldn't get it or didn't know they needed it.

What would you do to survive? Sex, crime, claiming others valuables they have thrown out, begging or drugs? How would you deal with your emotions? Would you bury them deep inside a bottle or hope that the drugs could give you the answers to all your woes. How would you eat, clothe yourself and stay warm.  Where would you bathe and most importantly could you love yourself still. How do people treat you? Has this taught you anything about yourself?  If you could have anything what would it be? Are you happy, miserable, sad, angry, afraid or lost?

Five years have past to this new life. How have you adapted to it? Do you see away out, do you want out? What can you do about it? How have you changed and what has become important to you?  What have you learned?  Do you miss human compassion, people looking at you with a  certain amount of respect in their eyes?  Do you feel loved?  Has anyone outside of this realm given you anything from the heart since you have been here? When is the last time you did something nice for them?

Chances are you can't answer these questions because you truthfully do not know. You have not had to experience this first hand but it does put the question to mind of how you would want to be treated and how you yourself would feel in this circumstance. The answers you come up with are your own but I would not be surprised if this exercise has enlightened you a little. 

Maybe next time we pass someone on the street that  is homeless or struggling with an addiction we can look them in the eyes instead of looking away.  Then say to ourselves this person who stands before me is as wonderful as any other living being and then send them your thoughts of love.  Remember this person whom you are looking at is someones son/ daughter , possibly a parent themselves, a sister/brother and a friend to many. They may have chosen to go this path but it does not make them less of a person than you. 

Having explored the homeless (who by the way are never really homeless - they are here on earth in the home that their creator gave to them )  and experiencing addiction myself I have learned that all humans are worthy of life and love. I have talked to many people who are homeless with/without addictions.  I have taken people out for dinner. I have given many people cigarettes and money but most of all I have given them the respect they deserve as human beings by listening to what they have to say .  I like getting to know them for who they are.  I have been lucky to be able to have these beings share their stories with me.

They are good people that work harder than some of us to survive. It may not be traditional work that you and I would do but that is what makes these people so great.  They are resourceful, have so much drive and will go the distance to do the things we consider ucky and messy.  They are not animals in fact they clean up after us.  People living out there on the street do many good deeds but they go overlooked. 

They are the earths recyclers. They appreciate the value of the things we throw away  and sell it to places that can offer it to those who can not afford to buy things new. Many of your old belongings get placed into the hands of someone who needs it because of the great individuals. Your trash is there treasure - there is nothing immoral with that.

 Many of them have had jobs like you.  They hold degrees and were professionals at one time. These great people can teach you many things in life if you take the time to stop, talk and listen. 

Quotes

• Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
• It's not what you have in your life, but whom you have in your life that counts
• Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down may be the ones to help you get back up.
• True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
• Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want him or her too doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
• No matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while. You must tell them what they have done, how it hurt you and then forgive them.
•  Even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
• Love is not for me to keep, but to pass on to the next person

Quotes of The Month

• Creation is a drug I can't do without.  - Cecil B. DeMille
• Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car. You would call that not a disease but an error of judgment. - Philip K. Dick
• The best mind-altering drug is the truth. - Lily Tomlin
  

In Memory to Friends of mine who died, been permanently injured,  are incarcerated because of drug addiction or have died of aids. I have had well over 30 friends that have died due to drugs here are a few that really stand out and who touched my heart. 

Steve Kruviak - age 18 Fell 17 stories to his death after shooting heroin.

• Robin King - age 27 Fell asleep on the couch after shooting up with her mother in their home and never woke up.
• Monk - Age 16 Fell asleep on the train tracks while in the company of his dog and friend Mike George after smoking herion. In Mike's effort to save them both he was killed.
• Kevin Williams Age 30 died in his sleep after overdosing on a long term addiction to prescription drugs.
• Kenn Dunn Age 26 Sentenced to life after murdering a man to support his drug habit
• Robbie Bruce Age 20 suffered brain damage after playing chicken on the road due to intoxication. When last I spoke to Robbie he was incarcerated and a heroin addict. To-date I don't know if Robbie is alive.
• Johnny Bruce Age 21 Robbie's brother Johnny was stabbed to death while intoxicated and high by his friend and left to die alone in a hallway.  
• Steve Leach became a speed addict at age 16 and spends his life in and out of jail. Haven't spoken to Steve for a couple of years and do not know if he is still alive would now be about 37 years old. When last we spoke the future didn't seem to promising but I hope that Steve has since recovered.
• Kevin Ross Age 16 sentenced for murder after shooting a taxi driver for $25.00 Christmas Eve to support his drug habit.
• Mark George Age 16 sentenced for murder after shooting a taxi driver with Kevin Ross on Christmas Eve.
• Ruby Williams Age 30 hung herself in jail because the pain became to great without her drugs.  
• Fifi Lamour Age 24 died of from her last overdose of crack cocaine.  Fifi had been diagnosed as clinically dead several times previously but had managed to come back to us.
• Lisa Neve's at age 12 Lisa became a prostitute and eventually addicted to drugs. She amassed 22 criminal convictions since age 15, many involving violence, threats and weapons. At age 21  She was deemed Canada's most notorious and dangerous young female criminal when she was sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence for robbing a prostitute and slashing her neck. Her status as a dangerous offender -  a designation reserved for Canada's most threatening criminals was overturned.  Lisa was released after spending 6 1/2 years in maximum security prison. Lisa  now  struggles to build the life she never had.
• Brad Turner died at age 30 from aids acquired from unprotected sex with female drug users.
• Tonya Geddes age 25 died of aids and aids related illnesses. Tonya died alone in a hospital after contacting aids through needle use.