Living life with a chronic illness is definitely not easy. But I do my best to push through all the barriers this illness puts in front of me! In my heart and mind, I believe maintaining a positive outlook on all situations in life will carry us through to much better times! I hope you find the information that I provide both helpful and inspirational!
As the Christmas holiday approaches at warp speed, we should try taking a few moments to reflect and remember loved ones still present, and others who passed away. What do you remember most about this holiday? Can you recall your excitement as a child waiting for Santa Claus? How would you describe the meaning of Christmas now? Many little ones tried all year to make it on Santa’s list, hoping everything they asked Santa for would be under the tree on Christmas morning. Before life as an adult with stress and responsibilities, we were those children with astonishment and excitement. Many children are so excited for a visit from Santa Claus, that they wait as long as possible to hear his sleigh bells before collapsing with exhaustion.
Who hears the Christmas wishes for the millions of homeless, abused, and neglected children? What would these innocent children wish for at this time of year? Children should never live in fear, without a warm bed to sleep in, without safety from neglect and violence, without food, or anything else many people take for granted. While many children wish and ask Santa Claus for the latest toys, the less fortunate may only ask for love, food, and a safe home. At the end of 2023, in the United States, it was reported a staggering 2.5 million children become homeless each year. Why, in the wealthiest country in the world, does homelessness continue to increase at rapid rates?
When was the last time you thought about the magic of Christmas? Do you remember being excited about Santa Claus coming and leaving milk and cookies for him? I am sure there once was a time when I believed Santa Claus was the one who left presents under the tree. Of course, even as a little girl, it did creep me out that a strange man would come into my home late at night while I was sleeping. I could not understand how he got inside when we did not have a fireplace, but all my friends believed this, and I went along with it.
As adults, we no longer ask Santa Claus for things we want because we know better now. Christmas is a magical time to spend with loved ones and enjoy seeing children’s faces light up on Christmas morning because they think Santa came. Many people, not only in the United States, continue struggling due to various unplanned reasons and have also forgotten what Christmas used to be and should still be. This holiday should be more than a meaningless consumer-filled time. Instead of thinking about the wants, many more musts are circling the lives and well-being of others. Unfortunately, there is an increasing and unrelenting escalation in the number of people suffering.
I wish I had thought about this earlier than three days before Christmas, but instead of spending ludicrous amounts of money on everyone, we should put some of the money we would typically spend on those who have plenty and spend some on those in need. Nothing is impossible, but it might be hard for people to decide where to donate money or what they want to do for those in need. If it is not possible this year, it can be food for thought next year or just anytime during the year to decide to help others. It is not to get praise or recognition but to help another person in need.
Thank you for stopping by my site today. This Christmas post was not the most positive, but I was being honest about the challenges. Yes, this time of year is supposed to be joyful, but struggles and hardships can cloud our perspectives, causing situations to seem darker than necessary. Hard times happen in everyone’s life and can skew our logical thoughts, which may cause emotional overload. I appreciate you reading this post, and I would love to know what you think in the comments. I will respond to comments as quickly as I can. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!
It does not matter how happy you are in life, if we do the same thing day after day, without any changes can become mundane and tiresome. The simplest things can make a huge difference and make us feel different about life and of the nonsense on the news. For the first time in three VERY long years, I am finally at my happy place, the beach. As I am writing this post, I am sitting on our balcony with the ocean breeze in my hair and the ocean waves right in front of me. This is the most relaxing and beautiful place that I have been to in years.
Where is a place where you feel the most at ease? When nothing that would typically trouble your mind, does not bother you at all. You can just feel at peace with everything in life, no matter how absurd things can become in our daily lives. Of course, my place has always been, and will always be, the beach. There is something about the sound of the ocean waves crashing down, the seagulls flying around in search of food, the laughter of children and adults alike, and the breeze that makes me so happy. The only thing missing here is our sweet and lovable cats, but I know they are being well cared for while we are away.
I do not know about you, but I have been beyond sick and tired of many of our politicians behaving worse than toddlers without manners. Name calling and immature insults are not doing anything good for anyone, and most definitely, not the country they represent. When was the last time you can remember that you were able to watch the news without hearing something about Donald Trump or the damn Bidens? Lord knows, I sure cannot. Obviously, for anyone that has read some of my other posts, I am surely NOT a supporter of Donald Trump, but when the news is constantly providing him a platform, we will never stop hearing about him. I have realized one thing about politics, it does not matter if they are Republican or Democrat, they are all corrupt in one way or another.
Are there not more important things going on in this world? Look at what Hawaii is going through right now, which is just one situation that needs attention. Why not think about the people that are going without food? These people are starving and may not know when they will have their next meal. Or what about the countless homeless people in the world? Why are we not focusing on things that matter instead of the nonsense with people who have forgotten how to be an adult? Why can people not focus their attention on things that matter, and figure out ways to help those in need? Instead of allowing our politicians to behave in less than responsible and respectful ways, why not call them out on what they SHOULD be doing?
Happiness is a choice and one we all MUST make. We should think about what brings us joy and not worry that someone else thinks what we choose for our life is inappropriate or unimportant. Why should anyone have the right to decide what is right for another person’s life when the way they are living their life might not be the best way? I am not saying we should be selfish and only think of ourselves, but we should be able to live in a way that makes us happy if they are not causing harm to others. All I am trying to say here is, who cares how another person lives THEIR life? Why are so many people consumed with degrading transgender people? I do not care if someone is gay, transgender, or anything else, if they are happy and not hurting another person!
Thank you for visiting my site today. I am aware some of what I shared is controversial, and some people might disagree with me, but you have a right to your opinion, and so I do. We do not have to agree, but we should be respectful of each other’s opinion. Regardless of all the nonsense in the news, we do still live in a free country, do we not? I hope you are doing well, and you enjoyed your weekend. I am looking forward to reading your comments, and I will respond as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!
Unfortunately, homelessness has been an enormous issue in the United States for many years. This issue is only progressively getting worse, and nothing is being done about it. It is ludicrous for this to be happening, considering the United States is the wealthiest developed country in the world. Why do the wealthy continuously get wealthier, and the middle and lower classes continue to try staying afloat? Well-known names such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos have more money than they could spend in ten lifetimes and could afford to help those less fortunate and still be able to live their upscale and luxurious lifestyle.
Currently, 582,462 homeless individuals are trying to survive in the United States. The number of homeless Americans has increased by 2,000 since the last census conducted in 2020. Homelessness has remained a consistent and prevalent issue that affects every state in the United States. The states with the highest number of homeless individuals are California at 161,548, New York at 91,271, Florida at 27,487, and Texas with 27,229 homeless. The two states with the lowest number of homeless are North Dakota with 610, and Wyoming with 648 homeless.
As human beings, we are all imperfect, and we make many mistakes during our journey through life. Unfortunately, many people tend to pass judgment on others and situations they do not understand. Unless we are around someone whom we communicate with regularly and have a close relationship with, we do not know what random struggles they may be enduring. When someone is going through a challenging and painful time, the last thing they need is to be mistreated or chastised. Poor treatment may cause more harm than good, and no one wants to be responsible for another person’s distress.
Homelessness is a devastating circumstance, and those inflicted by this tragic hardship are heartbreaking. We may not understand why or whom someone became homeless or why they cannot make changes to overcome their struggles and get off the streets, but we can be sympathetic. We must understand anyone can fall victim to the homelessness trap as this negative situation does not discriminate and can invade anyone’s life.
Some people will see a homeless person and immediately assume the person is nothing more than an alcoholic or a drug addict and dismiss them. Everyone needs to look past immediate and ignorant assumptions and be kind, compassionate, empathetic, and understanding because even though addiction is a common cause of homelessness, there are other reasons. In the rest of this post, I am going to explain some reasons for homelessness, and even though we cannot fix the issues, there are some simple ways we can help those in need.
1. Although this is not the only reason people are homeless, it is the #1 reason, which is addiction. It has been reported 68% of United States cities say addiction is the single largest cause of their homeless population. Sadly, addiction can overpower logic for housing to be their priority in life.
2. Mental health illnesses are another massive issue creating problems in our society. The disgusting lack of treatment services for people suffering from mental health illness and or struggling with addiction are far too few and offer only hopelessness and despair.
3. We are more than halfway through 2023, and I find it to be appalling to know inequality continues to be an issue flooding the country. Sadly, racial minorities experience homelessness at a much higher rate than the white population. Another related issue is, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Black Americans are three times more like than other races to lose their home.
4. This next fact will tug at your heartstrings, or at least it did mine. Domestic violence can lead to women and children becoming homeless, which is at NO fault of their own. Nationwide 50% of homeless women and children are due to an emergency need to flee from an abusive environment. Many times, women will feel it is an urgent matter to escape and leave without a solid plan. The women understand it is risky to leave but can admit staying can be even more risky and possibly the difference between life and death. Considering she may have left with tremendous urgency and no plan, she and her children may not have a place to stay, so they will end up trying to survive living in a car, shelter, or worst-case scenario, on the streets.
5. Family disagreements, which in a sense can be closely related to domestic violence. These disagreements occur often in the LGBTQ+ community. Sadly, coming out and being honest about oneself can be perilous. Some families will throw an individual out of their home or create a hazardous, and hostile environment. According to the True Colors Fund, 1.6 million youth from the LGBTQ+ community end up homeless annually.
6. A systematic breakdown can transpire due to an individual or family’s circumstances, which should never be dismissed. Homelessness can occur when our society neglects to recognize and support those at the highest risk of becoming without a home. The most common areas of failure are correctional services, healthcare services, and child welfare. Our society commonly neglects to address racial inequalities, increase wages, and provide affordable housing, which are contributing factors to the homelessness rate.
How can anyone expect changes in the homeless community when there is NOT adequate help? Why would we expect another person’s circumstances to improve or be the same as ours when we are all different? The United States is the wealthiest country in the world, but we are leaving these human beings alone. The unfortunate situation the homeless are in leaves them to be a victim of being condemned and without hope for their future.
We might not be able to fix everything for those who are homeless, but there are always simple things we can do to offer some assistance. The following are just a few ways we can all help the homeless community.
Donate Basic Items:
Many shelters and organizations will appreciate money, groceries, and clothing, but we can reach out to them first, and ask what they need the most. If you are planning to donate clothing, consider the time of year. During the summer and warmer months, customize what you donate to warm weather clothing. The same would apply to the winter and colder months, and you would want to donate clothing to help people stay warm. While I know we all want to help as much as we can, we should refrain from donating items that may not be as useful. You can also consider donating toiletries and personal items such as underwear, bras, and socks.
Help prepare and serve a meal:
At most shelters and organizations, you can volunteer to cook a meal for homeless guests, but you may want to speak with the organizer at the facility you want to help. Offering your time to help prepare and serve meals will mean a lot to anyone staying at the shelter. This provides the guest at the shelter with your compassion and shows that you care, which may offer them the home the need during their challenging time. A little kindness, love, and compassion can go a long way, especially when people are struggling.
Contribute your skills:
We all have talents and skills we can share with those struggling in life. Service providers, including plumbing, carpentry, accounting, childcare, tutoring, and mentoring skills are beneficial. The sky is the limit of how we can help others.
Offer a sincere smile:
Maintaining eye contact and speaking with kind words when speaking with the guests. Offering a smile shows respect for the guest’s humanity during a time when the person is struggling with the feeling of hopelessness and has lost hope for their future. This moment of your life will only take a short time but will have a HUGE, positive, and lasting impact on another person’s life.
Engage in conversations:
You can talk to the guests, as you are assisting in serving their meals about hobbies. Speak with the person living at the shelter with respect and friendliness. You can talk to them the same as you would anyone else, and this may encourage the guest and help them feel life is worth living, and there is hope for them.
I know this post was longer than normal, but I thought this information was important, and more people need to be aware of the struggles some endure. I appreciate you taking the time to visit my site and to read what I have shared. I hope this provided you with some insight into what some people are facing in the United States. Our lives may be challenging with what we may face, but homeless people are struggling and might be in danger. There are not nearly enough homeless shelters to manage to care for all the homeless, and many will go without food and shelter.
Fightmsdaily 