Today I am thankful for transitions.
So...
I guess I'll start this story at work.
I'm a therapist that works with a specific, misunderstood population. Many of my colleagues are unlicensed.
There is gossip -
a lot of gossip
about my "crazy curly" hair,
about my personality,
I care too much for the clientele,
and the perception that I'm "too nice."
If only these gossips would look me up on Google, they'd see the truth.
I'm not above fighting and winning wars. Nice is as nice does. Sometimes nice means chewing the arse of an abusive, word-twisting, ignorant asshat or two.
Last Wednesday, that is precisely what I did with a corporate stooge who, should I be dumb enough to follow his advice, will put my ability to do the work I love at risk.
So, the gossip has changed
Now, I'm fierce in advocating for those who need it the most.
Yep. I've even run for mayor to stop rape victims from being arrested for reporting the crimes against them that happened in police custody. I'd do it again.
Most of my clients are homeless. Eighteen months ago, I dreamed of Shango (Nigerian God of Thunder and Fire) urging me to help the homeless. There was a vision of a beautiful man of color, hands folded in prayer while his wrists were shackled, praying by an open garbage can. I met the man in the vision that needed my help earlier this year. He and his family found a home yesterday. I dreamt of Shango smiling last night.
Too many black and brown people are incarcerated, treated like garbage, and left to die on the streets. Sometimes alcohol and drugs are the only things available to pull them out of the painful terror of homelessness.
I wish there was more I could do. My dream is to start a co-op in the plains of Colorado to help homeless people learn life skills.
Last month, I got myself dolled up to go to a conservative shin dig but arrived at the venue a day early. I was embarrassed but the group welcomed me with open arms; I learned that they operate a community garden and coffee shop that employs the homeless. This was one of those synchronicities that are life-changing. Right now, I'm thinking of leaving my job just to intern with this group and find out what I need to do to make my dream a reality.
The asshat corporate stooges I currently work for are just going to push me to do just that. I guess they're part of the synchronistic journey, too.
There are days when I play with the thought of running against a mayor dumb enough to pretend he was homeless for a day and publicly showed his stupidity by declaring that people choose to live that way.
That man is a RINO. This libertarian has absolutely no respect for tax-wasting RINOS who ought to get the hell out of the way and let private entities fix the problem. I'd change my mind if he would implore the lunatic vigilantes in the Tea Party in my town to knock off their theft of the property of the homeless so people like me don't have to spend our time helping them get replacement social security cards and IDs so they can work.
Why would he do that when the Democrat stooges took the tax funds voted in to help the homeless to pay for the homeless sweeps in Denver?
Do you want to see a homeless person cry? Remind them that they are important just by virtue of being a human being.
They are treated so poorly that they often forget it.
Our politicians and the absurd policies they promote are sick and twisted.
***
So....
I've been having dreams of that blast from the past again. He's not dying. He's not drunk. He's just trying to get me to follow him far from my home. If I go, he starts bitching at me for not being the quiet, meek little woman he expected me to be. In the dreams, he's trying to shame me for having a voice and honoring belief systems that he disagrees with.
In dreams of the past, I would run away out of fear.
In this one, I told him that we were too different and I'd find my own way home alone. I walked away into a crowd of homeless people.
That is progress.
***
The only issue is that the politics of the day are weaponized against people who fight the system.
I still can't use Twitter despite Musk purchasing it.
Facebook still limits what I see, like, and post.
My livelihood could be put at risk if I piss off unelected bureaucrats.
Still....
I did fairly well when the local cops and city managers violated my fourth amendment rights by breaking into my property and harassing me via the court system.
I also did well when they unfairly fined me and refused to take reports of stalking on the part of my ex-husband and his family.
So....
'Eff it.
We can't enjoy life if we live in a cave out of fear of smaller, less-enlightened and fearful people.
Love,
S.
