Hello, friends...
I hope this year has been a good one for you. I've had my ups and downs but, most important, I've had some big growth "a-ha" moments and I enter this winter season more aware, more confident, and more peaceful than I think I have ever been in my life. I'm also more determined to help as many street people as I can this winter.
First things first: thank you again (it can NOT be said enough) to those of you who have supported me in what I do, either through kind words or donations. You encourage and inspire me.
Second: in case you aren't aware, The Pink Bag Project is primarily a winter effort. The cold weather here in Chicago is brutal. Since I'm not a government-funded (aka: government-controlled) organization, I only operate my project from Thanksgiving Day through the month of April. I should have written a blog post about that last spring and I apologize for not doing so! I'd never really kept a blog about what I do before so it hadn't occurred to me but, in the future, I'll send an "end of TPBP's season" message!
Third: All the above said, it's that time of year again! Thanksgiving Day in the USA is next Thursday, the 24th of November. Normally, that's my kick-off day; however, last night brought the beginnings of the bitter winds and below-freezing temperatures so I made an "executive decision" that ramping up nine days early might not be a bad idea. Especially after I saw this guy curled up under a thin blanket huddled in the corner of a building:
Doubly so after an attractive, well-dressed woman walked by and, seeing my look of concern, said with a laugh, "Oh don't pay any attention - they're always there!" before walking away. Only moments before, I'd been inside a festively decorated store that had been piping Bing Crosby's voice through the system: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" It made my heart sad for this man to think that he'll probably be curled up just like this on Christmas.
So I sighed, walked home, packed up some socks, gloves, toiletries, breakfast bars, hand and toe warmers, leashed up my Jilly Bean and headed back out. I quietly walked up to the man under the blanked. Hearing Jilly's paws, he looked out from under his blanket, an expression of panic on his face. I simply said, "I don't have much but I brought you some things to help you get through the next couple of days. I hope they help. Do you need anything else? I'll be around if you need me. My name's E." He looked down and shook his head quickly and I went on my way.
He's the first of what I'm sure will be many this winter. One by one, I'll help them through it - hug your loved ones, people, and, if you can, do a kind turn for someone who needs it. It doesn't have to be anything big... just let someone who feels alone in the world know that you see them and that he or she matters.
Love you all bunches...
E
I hope this year has been a good one for you. I've had my ups and downs but, most important, I've had some big growth "a-ha" moments and I enter this winter season more aware, more confident, and more peaceful than I think I have ever been in my life. I'm also more determined to help as many street people as I can this winter.
First things first: thank you again (it can NOT be said enough) to those of you who have supported me in what I do, either through kind words or donations. You encourage and inspire me.
Second: in case you aren't aware, The Pink Bag Project is primarily a winter effort. The cold weather here in Chicago is brutal. Since I'm not a government-funded (aka: government-controlled) organization, I only operate my project from Thanksgiving Day through the month of April. I should have written a blog post about that last spring and I apologize for not doing so! I'd never really kept a blog about what I do before so it hadn't occurred to me but, in the future, I'll send an "end of TPBP's season" message!
Third: All the above said, it's that time of year again! Thanksgiving Day in the USA is next Thursday, the 24th of November. Normally, that's my kick-off day; however, last night brought the beginnings of the bitter winds and below-freezing temperatures so I made an "executive decision" that ramping up nine days early might not be a bad idea. Especially after I saw this guy curled up under a thin blanket huddled in the corner of a building:
Doubly so after an attractive, well-dressed woman walked by and, seeing my look of concern, said with a laugh, "Oh don't pay any attention - they're always there!" before walking away. Only moments before, I'd been inside a festively decorated store that had been piping Bing Crosby's voice through the system: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!" It made my heart sad for this man to think that he'll probably be curled up just like this on Christmas.
So I sighed, walked home, packed up some socks, gloves, toiletries, breakfast bars, hand and toe warmers, leashed up my Jilly Bean and headed back out. I quietly walked up to the man under the blanked. Hearing Jilly's paws, he looked out from under his blanket, an expression of panic on his face. I simply said, "I don't have much but I brought you some things to help you get through the next couple of days. I hope they help. Do you need anything else? I'll be around if you need me. My name's E." He looked down and shook his head quickly and I went on my way.
He's the first of what I'm sure will be many this winter. One by one, I'll help them through it - hug your loved ones, people, and, if you can, do a kind turn for someone who needs it. It doesn't have to be anything big... just let someone who feels alone in the world know that you see them and that he or she matters.
Love you all bunches...
E
