Dear Friends,
The other day one of our regular participants, “Linda,” and I were invited to speak to students from the University of San Francisco about women and poverty. Linda has been in and out of homelessness for over 20 years and now lives in a single room occupancy hotel in the Tenderloin.
In a very gentle and unassuming way, Linda opened her life to strangers. From her stories about the distress of the incessant “beep” of the smoke detector while waiting days for the maintenance crew to replace the battery, to the never-ending battle with bedbugs, necessitating living with her clothing sealed in black garbage bags for four weeks. Linda made human the facts and statistics the students read in books.
Linda shared her strength. One powerful example was her disclosure that she had stopped using drugs largely because she didn't want her precious dog to be sniffing the crystal residue which fell on the ground. The students were reminded that pets play vital roles in all of our lives (countering the common judgement that, "poor people should be spending their money on basic necessities, rather than on the luxury of canine companions.") Linda connected her humanity with the students’.
As this new year dawns, may we seek and honor the goodness and strength of each person whom we encounter. May we strive to connect with the humanity of all people. Like Linda’s, may our lives illuminate the lives of others. Happy new year!
Sincerely,
Kathy Curran
Director
P.S. Click here to see a
5-minute video
which captures the determination and spirit of members of The Healing WELL community.
