There's always been something about the homeless that has pulled on my heart strings. Perhaps it's been the knowledge that my entire life I've only been one paycheque away from being homeless. On days like today (the weather is beyond nasty), I can't imagine not having my warm house, slippers, TV, everything at my disposal.
I was talking to my mom today and she thought she had told me, (she hadn't), but my brother has been homeless for a month. I had no idea. He's been living out of his vehicle.
I don't like my brother. There are very few people on the planet that I "hate" but I can truthfully say he's one of them. Usually when some misfortune befalls him I don't care, or even tell myself he deserved it.
In my mind though, no one deserves to be homeless. I was emotionally homeless growing up with him - never feeling safe in my own home and being physically, emotionally, and sexually assaulted by him. Somehow, that pain doesn't compare to what the pain of being physically homeless must be.
There's nothing we can do to help him. My mom and I talked at great length and she's been trying to figure out for weeks how to help him. Unfortunately he's created a series of life circumstances that have gotten him where he is. It's not that my mom's taking a "tough love" approach or anything (my mom is a million miles ahead of me in compassion). There's just literally nothing anyone can do to help him, that we can think of.
I guess when "big" problems like this hit close to home, it really makes one pause and think about whats' important. I never thought someone in my family, especially my immediate family, would be homeless, but he has been for a month and will be for the foreseeable future. Scary.
I was talking to my mom today and she thought she had told me, (she hadn't), but my brother has been homeless for a month. I had no idea. He's been living out of his vehicle.
I don't like my brother. There are very few people on the planet that I "hate" but I can truthfully say he's one of them. Usually when some misfortune befalls him I don't care, or even tell myself he deserved it.
In my mind though, no one deserves to be homeless. I was emotionally homeless growing up with him - never feeling safe in my own home and being physically, emotionally, and sexually assaulted by him. Somehow, that pain doesn't compare to what the pain of being physically homeless must be.
There's nothing we can do to help him. My mom and I talked at great length and she's been trying to figure out for weeks how to help him. Unfortunately he's created a series of life circumstances that have gotten him where he is. It's not that my mom's taking a "tough love" approach or anything (my mom is a million miles ahead of me in compassion). There's just literally nothing anyone can do to help him, that we can think of.
I guess when "big" problems like this hit close to home, it really makes one pause and think about whats' important. I never thought someone in my family, especially my immediate family, would be homeless, but he has been for a month and will be for the foreseeable future. Scary.
