"Get Up, Show Up, and Try"

                      By Damita J

     Let’s face it.  Every major problem becomes significant to us because it deals with our lives whether it involves a life-altering disease, an injury, a significant other losing interest in us, having -work-related problems, or losing a job.  In those situations, most of us bounce back because we have good medical care, can talk with a therapist, seek out other friends, or change our jobs.  But, how would you feel if you had no safe, warm, secure place to rest each day?  What does resilience look like for people at the very bottom?  What does resilience look like when your life falls apart due to homelessness?  Some people fall apart, some just exist, while some find ways to cope. 

     Some homeless people appear to have methods of resiliency, while others do not.  Four videos will touch your heart and highlight homeless people – all at various stages of coping.  What does resilience look like when your life falls apart?  The first thing you do is go into survival mode.  The second thing you do is look for what resources you have – family and others who might care about you.  I see that the homeless family got help because they got a new place to live.  I suspect that the others sought help from agencies and others. 

    

     In the first, older video, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7daSHhI1hI) a well-spoken homeless man, known as 'Brother Bluestocking' talks briefly.  Brother Bluestocking has two Masters’ Degrees and stated that he is a licensed teacher and guidance counselor in two states.  He also talked about being a musician. He also stated that he has a plan to escape homelessness, yet did not discuss any details.   His weapons of coping are his artistic abilities and his belief that his situation is not permanent. 

     The second video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU8TUZRtZg has another homeless man mentions he has a wife and some phony Facebook friends.  He mentions that he has a felony conviction on his record for drug possession (not dealing) and is unable to get housing and other needs due to his conviction.  He also talks about having more than 240 friends on Facebook, but that when he reached out them to get-together; none of them wanted to be bothered.  He explained that he can cope and feel value in his tough life when he is able to make at least one positive difference in someone’s life.  There are some people who ae ‘takers,’ so it is beautiful that someone who has nothing still wants to give back to others.

     Another video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYShiXMGULE shows a woman standing near an overpass and a tent, called Amanda.  Amanda is homeless, brain-injured, and resides in Seattle.  At first, she has a big smile, and then starts to cry when she talks about her existence which involves living under a bridge.  She said that she is not afraid to be “authentic” and sees herself as unselfish because she helps people.    Amanda copes with homelessness by looking at the positive even if “pretending is what gets you through.” Amanda stated that all any of us   “can do is get up, show up, and try.”  I love that statement. She further states that her three wishes (for others) would be: strength to continue fighting, that others can get out of this too (homeless) and understanding and compassion for everybody, just knowledge.”

     The final video is one of pure joy.  It shows a homeless, little boy and his mother https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UhaYyQVuuE seeing their dream home with decorations and furnishings for the first time.  The little boy is so shocked and overjoyed that he cries.  This is the power of resilience.

     Seeing the happy little boy was uplifting, while seeing people at their worse was sad.  The lessons here are plan stages in your life as much as possible, and when problems come seek out help from friends, family, and agencies before the sh** hits the fan.