Another words, be absolutely "Good" or be absolutely "Evil" like God or Hitler? That's the only way to go down in history and to touch lives!papasmerf said:
Learning humility ...
- Thread starter DateMasamune
- Start date
Sometimes we need to step back and appreciate
Interesting timing of this post.
When I visit others who are less fortunate, I really appreciate everything I own and stuff that we sometime take for granted. I grew up in the rundown apts at Jane & Finch. Lived on few dollars/week for about two month when I misbudgeted from my 1st major purchase.
I spend the holidays with less fortunate friends in the projects of New York city. Lived modest for the week. I've been to ghettos of South central LA (after the riot), inner city of SF, Boston, Philly, Wash, and volunteer work to junky rooming house in Cabbagetown. I can tell you some of those buildings in NYC are the worst. How 6-8 people packed in space for 2. People with zero pride or no self-esteem, threw rotten garbage, urinate and takes dump around their dwelling. It's worst than some of the 3rd world places I visited. The meaning of Life became so apparent to me.
Sure, Goodtime could've stayed with others in their posh upper East side (Reggie's like) million $ condos or park his ass at 5 star Hyatt but it wouldn't be the same. I had plenty of time for soul searching sitting in the park, watched others with so little who are so happy and think about what is important to me. Cleanse my spirit, rid myself of my daily baggage, at least for the moment. But I'm not as noble as friends who does missionary work, give up all their belongings and help others in 3rd world countries.
Interesting timing of this post.
When I visit others who are less fortunate, I really appreciate everything I own and stuff that we sometime take for granted. I grew up in the rundown apts at Jane & Finch. Lived on few dollars/week for about two month when I misbudgeted from my 1st major purchase.
I spend the holidays with less fortunate friends in the projects of New York city. Lived modest for the week. I've been to ghettos of South central LA (after the riot), inner city of SF, Boston, Philly, Wash, and volunteer work to junky rooming house in Cabbagetown. I can tell you some of those buildings in NYC are the worst. How 6-8 people packed in space for 2. People with zero pride or no self-esteem, threw rotten garbage, urinate and takes dump around their dwelling. It's worst than some of the 3rd world places I visited. The meaning of Life became so apparent to me.
Sure, Goodtime could've stayed with others in their posh upper East side (Reggie's like) million $ condos or park his ass at 5 star Hyatt but it wouldn't be the same. I had plenty of time for soul searching sitting in the park, watched others with so little who are so happy and think about what is important to me. Cleanse my spirit, rid myself of my daily baggage, at least for the moment. But I'm not as noble as friends who does missionary work, give up all their belongings and help others in 3rd world countries.
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Why exactly do you want to do this? To make the homeless feel better? To make yourself feel warm and fuzzy inside with "enlightenment"? It seems to me that you are looking for a way to become more connected to the human experience, good and bad, but don't want the commitment it takes to find that fulfillment. A cold night spent outside to better understand poverty is not the equivalent of buying some cliffs notes to understand Shakespeare.
When I was young, I hung around downtown and talked to a lot of people. You'd be surprised how many rich kids would "play" homeless and beg for money. The real street kids were'nt that happy about it.
I'd agree with others that you learn humility by trying to make some kind of difference in others lives and seeing how much people appreciate a little kindness.
I'd agree with others that you learn humility by trying to make some kind of difference in others lives and seeing how much people appreciate a little kindness.
That was funnyLil'Miss said:
The experience you seek could be had in so many ways. Living homeless is probably not the way. You seem clearly to be rejecting the concete jungle as you put it. Modern life as we all know it. The homeless are part of it, just at the very bottom.
I lived on a small coastal island, with no roads and no electric power, except by generator for a year. It was the most magical time of my life. I would walk through the forest and see where the deer walked just by the light opennings through the trees, never mind the footpath. I lived by the weather. You change back into a type of human this much more in tune with nature, a nature that those who live in the concrete jungle, are killing with commerce. I listened to the whales at night, and we played instruments to them. They talked back. A chill runs up your spine.
From this life style I developed a perspective such that when I returned to the city on trips, I could see how distant from our true humanity, that city and its inhabitants had become.
I venture to say you are experiencing a negative gut reaction to the pressures of modern life. Your inner being is rejecting it. You need to change your life. Go there. Do it. You can always return. You will be more experienced in life, more resourceful and much better equipt to deal with power and food shortages. You may even find what you are looking for, and never return.
Good luck!
I became homeless two years ago in Vancouver. It started in December and went until the end of February, whenI started to travel.(I was, after all, at the airport-see below). It was a decision that I made just before I was about to sign the lease to a shitty little apartment that would have taken all my money (at the time) to secure. I literally had the pen in my hand, hovering above the lease.
I slept at the airport. I had a bus pass. I showered at a community center(everyday). I did laundry at the community center. I found enough work to earn about $60 per week. Odd jobs. I spent a lot of time at Chapters book stores, (they still had couches then). Also at the library reading and using the free computers.
What it did for me was to really face the life long fear that I had about becoming homeless. Fear, any fear, drags you down unless you face it full on. If you face it it will elevate you and no longer control your life.
Since then I have, in a different way, been homeless constantly. I have been traveling the world (now in Berlin, Germany) and have not had a 'home' for more than a few weeks. I have almost landed 'on the streets' a couple of times but not quite. I have also stayed in a $5000 per night resort with some very rich and famous people. It makes no difference. One is as good as the other. I know this in my bones for I have lived both.
That's my story.
YL
I slept at the airport. I had a bus pass. I showered at a community center(everyday). I did laundry at the community center. I found enough work to earn about $60 per week. Odd jobs. I spent a lot of time at Chapters book stores, (they still had couches then). Also at the library reading and using the free computers.
What it did for me was to really face the life long fear that I had about becoming homeless. Fear, any fear, drags you down unless you face it full on. If you face it it will elevate you and no longer control your life.
Since then I have, in a different way, been homeless constantly. I have been traveling the world (now in Berlin, Germany) and have not had a 'home' for more than a few weeks. I have almost landed 'on the streets' a couple of times but not quite. I have also stayed in a $5000 per night resort with some very rich and famous people. It makes no difference. One is as good as the other. I know this in my bones for I have lived both.
That's my story.
YL
DateMasamune said:
No, think back on those who have influenced you. where they either good or evil?????????? Likely they were ordinary people who walked into your life for a brief period of time.
I, for one, find your story very interesting.yoniluvrca said:
Okay, you can go a long way in Berlin with just English but are you linguistically gifted? That certainly would make things easier if you do a lot of travelling.
And how do you earn your daily bread? Do you have some sort of skills that make it easier to find work?
Yeah, I wish you'd write more about your lifestyle.
jwm
My Story by YL
So as not to hijack this tread I will do so in a new thread soon. Look for it in a couple of days. I am rather busy.jwmorrice said:
True. Some kids travel here from the burbs or even further to go downtown and panhandle. Then use the money to party. Some kids do leave home completely and then play the 'abused at home' card. Then there are some people (two that I know personally) that collect ODSP cheque $900. a month live in subsidized housing ($400. a month) and panhandle for their party money. One guy I know 'works' the Forrest Hill LCBO. He makes about $20.-$30./hr in front of that LCBO. Guys there fist fight for the spot that is how lucrative it is. One guy I knew way back in ’96 lived in the same rooming house as me on Charles St. worked the BR every night. He made about $30-$50 in 2 to 3 hours plus was also getting his cheque every month. Not all the people downtown that appears to be homeless are. Then also like I said before some, no change that to lots, of people who are in fact homeless (sleeping outside) choose to do so. There is nothing IMO humbling about any of these above people. They are all just cons giving our fair city a bad name and being a blight on the landscape. I don’t feel sorry for these people and never give them any money.strange1 said:
Having said… sadly there are a lot of people who are truly legit homeless people. People whom through no fault or control of their own ended up homeless. Single abused mothers, the working poor, people who worked in low paying jobs and got laid off and can’t find new employment or employment enough to be able to pay the bills. Some of these people do IMO feel humbled. Others I think feel legit anger or frustration and hopelessness. They are trying hard to do all the right things and are somehow stuck in a real tough rut. I have found myself in this spot a couple of times in my life and have met a few others the same. Feelings of gratitude and relief are the benefits that one receives after a lot of hard work and pulling yourself out of these jams. One must be careful though… at least I do because after a period of time back in the good life again… yah you can start to take things for granted. And for a guy like me with just a tad too much ego sometimes it’s hard to feel humbled. When I get too high on myself and start to take things for granted etc… that’s when a few mins of reflection or as we say in recovery circles ‘remember when’ comes into play. I must take a few mins to remember where I’ve been and where I could be again in no time at all whether through my own fault or not. Then I feel grateful and a little humbled. IMO true humility (depending how you define it) is very difficult to achieve. To even come close to starting to get there though you need to start with gratitude.
Oh… and a good meditation tape or CD.
That was a beautiful post! When I read it, it was as if I was actually there!Mcluhan said:That was funny
The experience you seek could be had in so many ways. Living homeless is probably not the way. You seem clearly to be rejecting the concete jungle as you put it. Modern life as we all know it. The homeless are part of it, just at the very bottom.
I lived on a small coastal island, with no roads and no electric power, except by generator for a year. It was the most magical time of my life. I would walk through the forest and see where the deer walked just by the light opennings through the trees, never mind the footpath. I lived by the weather. You change back into a type of human this much more in tune with nature, a nature that those who live in the concrete jungle, are killing with commerce. I listened to the whales at night, and we played instruments to them. They talked back. A chill runs up your spine.
From this life style I developed a perspective such that when I returned to the city on trips, I could see how distant from our true humanity, that city and its inhabitants had become.
I venture to say you are experiencing a negative gut reaction to the pressures of modern life. Your inner being is rejecting it. You need to change your life. Go there. Do it. You can always return. You will be more experienced in life, more resourceful and much better equipt to deal with power and food shortages. You may even find what you are looking for, and never return.
Good luck!
However, how much would it cost to retreat to such as resort? Another words, like many of us here on the board, are buying a fantasy.
Do I reject modern life? Well, for one thing, I love high tech stuff. I love electronics, cars and just gadgets in general. We are progressing as you can see in our high tech stuff, but, in terms of humanity, we are regressing as we are becoming more and more self centred, selfish, more and more competitive (at least in big cities like Toronto).
Again, I do not know. It seems like I am on the same boat as many others who have not yet found meaning in anything ...
Like mentioned before. Part of desire is to experience being "homeless" is to find meaning as meaning can often be found in the simplest things like ridding oneself of all the pressure, expectations and masks we are forced to wear as our modern commerce driven socirty forces us to.
Somtimes I think the homeless are more free then "us", the more fortunate ones because at least they don't have a schedule to follow, they don't need to conform to certain policies, they don have to be "professional" on the job. They can get up whenever they want, act however they want, dress however they want, etc. etc. Being a homeless person is actually quite free.
In fact, there is a homeless person who comes in the bank once a month (withdrawn money which the gov't deposits). And although I do not have direct contact with him, he seems to be much more cultured and civilized and well mannered and polite then some of my other affluent clients. And after observing this for awhile, it has taught me to treat all clients with the same respect and courtesy regardless of how much they have in their account. I for one, have been guilty of judging others based on their investment potential and accounts. But this homeless person who comes in once a month has taught me something ... so I thank him for teaching me what it means to be "real" and treating all with equality ...
And yes, people who are in banking/finance do infact treat poeple like shit unless they can help them meet their quotas and it is something I dispise.
Maybe because I am exposed to this kind of shit all day, it has made me reject it and seek success and pleasure in something else besides the bling bling.
meaning
The invitation to you here is that you give it meaning. By your actions in the world you endow upon it life. You can do anything you like, even sleep with as many beautiful sps as you can afford. But somehow, give this meaning.
I like your idea of spending time on the street and I like the place that I feel it is coming from in you. That place is, as I see it, a genuine place that wants to understand and see other points of view. I am just not sure that you will learn humility doing this. Humility, like everything else has no meaning, again, unless you give it meaning.
Getting to the place where you see that life has no meaning is great. It can also be a difficult place to leave. Many commit suicide here. Others have a realization about themselves and carry on.
YL
As I see it you have stumbled upon a Great Truth. Things have no meaning. Life has no meaning-none what so ever.DateMasamune said:
The invitation to you here is that you give it meaning. By your actions in the world you endow upon it life. You can do anything you like, even sleep with as many beautiful sps as you can afford. But somehow, give this meaning.
I like your idea of spending time on the street and I like the place that I feel it is coming from in you. That place is, as I see it, a genuine place that wants to understand and see other points of view. I am just not sure that you will learn humility doing this. Humility, like everything else has no meaning, again, unless you give it meaning.
Getting to the place where you see that life has no meaning is great. It can also be a difficult place to leave. Many commit suicide here. Others have a realization about themselves and carry on.
YL
