Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
She has been homeless for at least 5 years, and is living on the streets in this freezing weather. Her winter days consist of sitting on a bench outside of the Supermarket.
I get out of my warm truck, close up my long coat, and wrap my scarf around my neck and start to shiver as I make my way towards the store. As I'm walking, trying not to slip, and begin to say to myself "I hate this freezing winter weather", "I'm so cold, can't wait to get this grocery shopping done and get back home".
Then I stop,......dead in my tracks"....because now I see her at her usual spot on the bench. You can barely see Liz, except for her tiny face sticking out of a mountain of blankets. Her face is red and ruddy, and she looks frozen.
My legs are a little acky from the cold, the weather rips me apart, but I live in a house that has heat and hot water. I'm about to buy yet more food to stock up, so I can eat when and what I want. If I want a hot cup of tea, I do not have to depend of the kindness of others. I can just go into my pretty kitchen and prepare a cup.
Many times I've helped her, along with many others, considering the amount of blankets she has. But there have been times when she has refused money, telling me that she has enough right now. She is an honest and very kind woman. She does have pych problems, and should be on meds., but has told me that she believes the meds screw up her mind more. She is not trusting of strangers, and will not go to a shelter. So there she sits.
So here I am, sitting on my computer,....a little chilly.....thinking of Liz this homeless woman.......and wondering "How does she survive"! How is her body able to handle this freezing cold, day and night? Many nights have been below zero.
She is my reality check.....she always makes me walk away feeling even more grateful for what I have
I get out of my warm truck, close up my long coat, and wrap my scarf around my neck and start to shiver as I make my way towards the store. As I'm walking, trying not to slip, and begin to say to myself "I hate this freezing winter weather", "I'm so cold, can't wait to get this grocery shopping done and get back home".
Then I stop,......dead in my tracks"....because now I see her at her usual spot on the bench. You can barely see Liz, except for her tiny face sticking out of a mountain of blankets. Her face is red and ruddy, and she looks frozen.
My legs are a little acky from the cold, the weather rips me apart, but I live in a house that has heat and hot water. I'm about to buy yet more food to stock up, so I can eat when and what I want. If I want a hot cup of tea, I do not have to depend of the kindness of others. I can just go into my pretty kitchen and prepare a cup.
Many times I've helped her, along with many others, considering the amount of blankets she has. But there have been times when she has refused money, telling me that she has enough right now. She is an honest and very kind woman. She does have pych problems, and should be on meds., but has told me that she believes the meds screw up her mind more. She is not trusting of strangers, and will not go to a shelter. So there she sits.
So here I am, sitting on my computer,....a little chilly.....thinking of Liz this homeless woman.......and wondering "How does she survive"! How is her body able to handle this freezing cold, day and night? Many nights have been below zero.
She is my reality check.....she always makes me walk away feeling even more grateful for what I have
I pray for these poor souls, "but for the grace of god go I.".
With the economy the way it is we are going to be finding just regular folks out on the street, they no longer will be able to pay rent or house payments for lack of work. The increase at shelters and food banks is growing at an alarming rate. Many families are moving in together shutting down households. It may just end up bringing us all closer together.
It truly does put our own realitys in check to witness such dire human conditions :( Nobody deserves to live like Liz is living.
Did you hear about the World War 2 vet on the news last night? He died in his own home-frozen because he was just a "little" late to pay the bill. This is just an example of the chronic system we have. Forget human life these businesses may as well say, we want our money and we want it now!
This man did not deserve what happened to him :(
I will keep Liz in my prayers. She sounds like a gentle and honest soul. May God bless her into shelter and available food soon.
I want to cry :( I feel so much for these people.
How many of us are just on bad decision away from being where Liz is? Or maybe one mental illness away. Her mental illness is no more her fault than our fibro is our fault. Think about this, we are the lucky ones. We may have pain, but we are in our homes, with food, warmth and relative comfort, while she sits and waits for (?) what? It is easy to throw a couple of bucks at the problem of the homeless, it is harder to sit with them and talk to them and pray with them and find out how they got where they are. It is harder to really care.
We truly are just one bad decision away from being where they are.
I was nearly homeless a lifetime ago, but it is still vivid as can be. God blessed me with a home in time. I will never, ever forget that.
My compassion is very strong for the homeless. If I do see someone, I make it a point to give to them. Be it a cup of coffee or some money.
I just wish humanity were not like this. The systems fail people so much. It truly does boggle my mind.
I have a love-hate relationship when it comes to money. But when I read stories such as Liz's or witness it myself, or hear about tragic loss of human life in the name of the almighty dollar...I tend to hate the money more.
The world should not be like this.
when they are forced out, either due to Finacial situations, or if they have Mental disabilities it is Very sad Indeed...I couldn't stand to see it...I would have to bring them home with me...try to save the world one person at a time...sigh...I know, not reality....
Their bodies must be adjusted to the cold and elements.. but I do think some of them are hanging on by a thread.. sad.. so very sad... ty for posting this.. homelessness is a growing thing in our country.. sigh.. I certainly wish I could help them all... hugs hun.. :)
Very sad indeed
What is also such a vivid memory of mine was an underpass area in another state where I worked.
I would drive by and see the homeless sleeping during the day. I also noticed their canned and non-perishable items, along with clothing and such.
My heart broke one day, when I noticed the entire underpass was totally cleaned out. Poof...gone was everything, including the homeless.
Over the next several days, I noticed that they came back. Placed their foods up, clothing, etc...
It turns out over the course of several months of observing, the city would come in and do this cleaning and sweeping of the area.
Boy, did that ever so much break my heart. They had no place to go and called this home. Just heartbreaking.
I dont know if it was a sanitary issue that the city would do this. I dont know what they did during cleanup. I honestly dont know what was the true issue.
They would always come back to their place they called home.
During the same timeframe, during the summer, I befriended a homeless woman who was always on one corner of a street with a hat collecting change from people driving by-stopped at the light. I was always happy when the light turned red and I was able to give to her. Not only money, but she enjoyed her usual orange soda that I had for me in my cooler. Giving up one of those eachtime I saw her, brought sheer delight to her eyes. I cant imagine how she endured the sweltering heat.
Im rambling. In a flash things can be sooo different. I am thankful for what I do have and give when I can.
That lifetime ago changed me in so many ways.
What is also such a vivid memory of mine was an underpass area in another state where I worked.
I would drive by and see the homeless sleeping during the day. I also noticed their canned and non-perishable items, along with clothing and such.
My heart broke one day, when I noticed the entire underpass was totally cleaned out. Poof...gone was everything, including the homeless.
Over the next several days, I noticed that they came back. Placed their foods up, clothing, etc...
It turns out over the course of several months of observing, the city would come in and do this cleaning and sweeping of the area.
Boy, did that ever so much break my heart. They had no place to go and called this home. Just heartbreaking.
I dont know if it was a sanitary issue that the city would do this. I dont know what they did during cleanup. I honestly dont know what was the true issue.
They would always come back to their place they called home.
During the same timeframe, during the summer, I befriended a homeless woman who was always on one corner of a street with a hat collecting change from people driving by-stopped at the light. I was always happy when the light turned red and I was able to give to her. Not only money, but she enjoyed her usual orange soda that I had for me in my cooler. Giving up one of those eachtime I saw her, brought sheer delight to her eyes. I cant imagine how she endured the sweltering heat.
Im rambling. In a flash things can be sooo different. I am thankful for what I do have and give when I can.
That lifetime ago changed me in so many ways.
When I was 15 or 16, I don't know but I do remember that the Bears won the Super Bowl at that time. Anyway, I lived in an abandoned townhouse w/no heat or water, and I thought I was going to freeze to death so I laid there and prayed for God, not let me freeze. And then I remembered something that my Gram always said " Rebecca... put all of your problems, worries and fears in Gods hands, He will take care of you " And a warmth came over me and I was able to mentally block out the freezing cold. My boyfriend (that lived at home and his mom hated me) came to check on me and I was sick ( I thought I was Ok ) he started a fire in the house to try and warm me up and we had to get the hell out, cuz we burnt the place down. I met a very nice lady that day that lived a couple doors down. My boyfriend explained that I needed some heat and food and asked if she would help and she opened her door to me.
I laid on her couch for 3 days so sick (high fever) that I could not even open my eyes. That was one Cold winter !!!
I will pray for liz
Imagine if at least half the people in the world could reach out and touch another's life with an act of kindness everyday. I think it would certainly make the world a better place.
Some of us can't help others monetarily or physically. But I do believe a simple prayer or loving thoughts do help. If not for the other's, at least we are making ourselves better people by caring for other's with our heart.