I've been homeless. In fact, I spent over a year 'living' in my truck in a Walmart parking lot. It wasn't easy - by no stretch. But even in that situation there are Open Doors and Opportunity - things you can learn. Mostly out of necessity.
What did I learn?
Here are 10 of the lessons I've learned over the course of this journey.
1. There are more hours in the day than you can ever imagine.
When you have no where to go, no where to be, and nothing to do, the days drag on and on and on. Sometimes they seem downright never-ending.
That's a blessing and a curse.
When times are good and you have a place to go, be, and something to do, time flies by.
When you have none of the above, it drags on as if to never end.
2. With so many hours to waste in each day, it takes a lot more money than anyone could ever think.
It costs around $5 an hour to be homeless. How? Because you have no where to go, no where to be, and nothing to do. You 'need' the internet to stay in touch with the world, look for jobs, send out resumes, etc - and even more so if your job is working on the internet - like mine is.
It takes money to sit at McDonald's.
It takes money to sit at Panera.
It takes money to sit at Starbucks.
It takes money to sit at the Tiki.
It takes money to sit at the bowling alley.
It takes money to do anything you're going to do, because remember, if you aren't sitting inside somewhere like your house, you're sitting in your truck and your truck is running because it's 92 degrees and you need air. Idle + air = gas burned = money spent.
Even if it were only $2 an hour on average, you still spend $30 a day. (Side Note: if you look at your rent, and only rent, you probably spend on average $30 a day - $900 a month. That doesn't include electric, cable, phone, water, trash, food, clothing, etc. Living is expensive.)
3. One of the best purchases you can make is a ac power converter.
Plug it in and you can shave your face, charge your phone, or laptop, and whatever else you have available that runs on electricity.
4. Tiki bars attached to hotels with a swimming pool were created for people who need a full immersion bath.
I had a house that I ended up losing because of health concerns and not being able to work a 9-5. I went first to live on the couch of a friend of mine for a month. But after that month I was out on my own. It was then I learned the importance of Tiki bars and swimming pools when it came to 'taking a shower'.
As long as you can afford a drink or two, you can take a swim. Sure you smell like chlorine after, but that's better than grimy sweat and body odor.
5. Washing clothes costs $2.75 for the wash and $1.50 for the dry - but you can take an Army bath once they're clean.
Wash your clothes, dry your clothes, fold your clothes, take them to the truck.
Grab clean shirt, clean underwear, clean shorts, soap, and a toothbrush and head back in to the bathroom. Strip naked and wash yourself. Dry yourself with your old clothes. Put on your new clothes and brush your teeth. You are now ready for church.
6. Poor people put their faith into action by helping - the rich people I know simply say, "I'm praying for you".
Um. Thanks.
This is pretty self explanatory but I know a lot of people with money who "pray for me", and only one person in those early days sent me $50 - without me even asking. Just, "go pick it up". This person didn't have it to 'spare'. A pension dweller who lives on a fixed income and has medical bills opened her wallet and gave as much as she could.
She actually got a $100 refund in the mail for something she had overpaid for months earlier. It was "found money" so she split it with me. Amazing.
I'm not saying anything about others who aren't in the position to take action themselves and can only pray - I totally get it and understand - I've been there many times myself. But this one person put faith into action by believing I was going to make it through and come out even better than before by actually helping me make it though in that time - and not just praying that I would.
If some of these rich people I know want to simply "pray for me", I'll take those too. Matter fact, I'll take prayers from everyone. Those don't cost anything.
7. I was foolish when I lived in this city last time - I never went to the beach and it was right across the street.
For the first 7 or so years I lived in Florida I lived across the street from the beach - but I never went. Maybe 3 times. That was stupid. I mean, how far removed do you have to be to not take for-granted the beach?
Well, now I try and make it a priority to get to the beach every day. Walk it. Say hi to people (this is a wealthy area so I'm always trying to be friendly in order to create Open Doors and Opportunity). Be in the sun. Let the waves crash over my feet.
8. It could be very easy to feel defeated and be ready to give up - if I were the type of person to easily feel defeated and ready to give up.
On the daily I probably think in 'reality' terms once or twice - but I never try and remain in those thoughts. They can defeat even the strongest of wills and faith. It's the acceptance of reality quickly that helps me move on.
"I am homeless and I have no place to go."
"Okay. Where are you going?"
Move soldier. Keep walking. Hold on, hold on the Lord ain't finished yet.
If you don't listen to Christian music, like I do all day every day, you won't know that line is from Toby Mac's new song. Best song ever for that situation.
Pray without ceasing. You've got no one else to talk to so just talk to Jesus.
And you have to keep your joy. Have to remain happy. Have to laugh a lot. Have to find reasons to have fun and joke around with others. Have to laugh. Have to.
Can't allow the stress of the situation to overwhelm you. I write that now and pray I can remember it tomorrow and the next day and if necessary, the days after.
And you have to stick as closely as you can to a routine.
(7-8 am) wake up, grab .50 cents, walk in Walmart, pee, buy can of RC cola on the way out.
(8-9 am) shave if you need but mostly start driving to Panera.
(9-11:30 am) sit at Panera ($2.01 spent) and use their internet - and bathroom - and more of their internet. When they shut you off, move on.
(11:30 am) go to 7-11 and buy a Big Gulp. Head to the beach. Walk the beach. Stick your feet in the ocean and let the waves crash over them.
(2 pm) leave the beach and head to McD's or Tiki (this is where the day starts getting expensive because it's only 2pm) in order to get back online and see if any business emailed you ...
etc etc etc.
(10 pm) Head back to Walmart and use their internet the rest of the night now that it's cool outside and you can sit in your truck.
(1 am) Go to sleep
9. 11 months in I still had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow.
Is that one place going to hire me? I had two great interviews. Well, I thought they were great.
Is that other business, or that business, or the other 20 I've submitted my resume to, are they going to call?
Will I actually get a job that doesn't leave me living like this? Or will I have to take a job that will have me living like this forever. You can't climb your way out a hole like this on low wages.
Will I have a business needing a website give me a call? I need just one of those - $3000 deals, and I'm back to having a roof over my head again.
In fact, I only need 1 a month and I'm back.
But those are probably more difficult to find than an actual job, and so that's why I've concentrated on finding work from others rather than on finding website work for myself - but I'd take either.
10. You're already on the street, so that's not even a concern - no, the biggest fear you have is going broke. Completely broke. "I have no money at all" broke.
It all comes crashing down and ends when that happens. No money for food. No money for gas. No money for emergencies (that's a tremendous fear - tremendous "what if x happens" fear - Dear Lord.)
Bonus: 11. When you go to Arby's to get a Jr Roast Beef for $1.80, be sure to give them $2.05 - you're going to need that quarter for laundry.
That quarter (clean clothes) is a key to Open Doors and Opportunity.
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