2/28/2006
Watching the Tsunami Roll In*
When I started this blog, it was just me, a computer, and the Beast looking over my shoulder.
Now, just looking around the Web, I can see that I seem to have made a lot of noise. I've gotten many e-mails congratulating me on the News & Record article and offering encouragement. I've seen innumerable comments on the boards of Blogger and other sites that host blogs, some from countries such as Canada, France and Australia. View From the Sidewalk has been linked to from more sites than I could possibly keep up with. One blogger, sebastian, even put me onto the fact that the German media got wind of the story.
The. German. Media.
I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw that! I had forgotten just how big the Web has become. That the Germans would pick up on this (and I guess by default, other places in Europe) just blows my mind! It means the my story -- and by extension, the story of every homeless person in America and beyond -- might eventually make its way around the world.
Good. No one can get helped until the problem gets noticed.
Still, I wonder sometimes just what the heck I've gotten myself into. I seem to have made sufficient noise to attract attention to homelessness; now what do I do? In the short term, I'll be keeping up the blog and keeping people abreast of what's going on, but then what? I'm not planning to be homeless forever. Will I still have the same perspective once I have a roof overhead? What of the thoughts and debates I've influenced? What if (egad!) someone actually wants me to be a spokesperson or leader of some sort?
I just don't know.
I know at this point, failure isn't an option; the Beast would love that, so I guess I'll just keep on keepin' on.
And learn to swim before the tsunami hits.
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*This is not to demean the tragedy of the people of Indonesia; indeed, many of the victims of the tsunamis in late December 2004 are probably still homeless themselves to this day.
Now, just looking around the Web, I can see that I seem to have made a lot of noise. I've gotten many e-mails congratulating me on the News & Record article and offering encouragement. I've seen innumerable comments on the boards of Blogger and other sites that host blogs, some from countries such as Canada, France and Australia. View From the Sidewalk has been linked to from more sites than I could possibly keep up with. One blogger, sebastian, even put me onto the fact that the German media got wind of the story.
The. German. Media.
I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw that! I had forgotten just how big the Web has become. That the Germans would pick up on this (and I guess by default, other places in Europe) just blows my mind! It means the my story -- and by extension, the story of every homeless person in America and beyond -- might eventually make its way around the world.
Good. No one can get helped until the problem gets noticed.
Still, I wonder sometimes just what the heck I've gotten myself into. I seem to have made sufficient noise to attract attention to homelessness; now what do I do? In the short term, I'll be keeping up the blog and keeping people abreast of what's going on, but then what? I'm not planning to be homeless forever. Will I still have the same perspective once I have a roof overhead? What of the thoughts and debates I've influenced? What if (egad!) someone actually wants me to be a spokesperson or leader of some sort?
I just don't know.
I know at this point, failure isn't an option; the Beast would love that, so I guess I'll just keep on keepin' on.
And learn to swim before the tsunami hits.
--------------------------
*This is not to demean the tragedy of the people of Indonesia; indeed, many of the victims of the tsunamis in late December 2004 are probably still homeless themselves to this day.
# posted by Cybermancer @ 12:58 PM 
Comments:
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I think one of the main reasons you have gotten the attention that you have is because you have a flair for writing and keeping a reader's interest, not to mention decent grammar and spelling. Many blogs nowadays are difficult to read just because of how they are written.
I've only been reading your blog a day or two ago (I also found it through digg), and I have a couple questions: 1-where are you currently located? and 2-when you refer to "the beast," are you actually talking about the Devil himself, or some other reference?
Feel free to drop me an email if you like :)
Susan
I've only been reading your blog a day or two ago (I also found it through digg), and I have a couple questions: 1-where are you currently located? and 2-when you refer to "the beast," are you actually talking about the Devil himself, or some other reference?
Feel free to drop me an email if you like :)
Susan
You didn't know where this journey would lead to with those first tentative steps when you began this blog. Don't worry about it's destination right now, just keep stepping.
That beast of yours is feeding off all of doubts about the future and guilt about the past.
Forgive yourself. There is nothing you can do about the past. What got you to this place doesn't matter. What matters is what you do from here.
I think most of us worry about our futures. But right now, this minute, is the only thing that we can actually DO anything about it. You are doing what needs to be done to secure your family's future.
Next time that beast has the nerve to creep out of that corner you have stuffed it, be quick to remind it of these facts.
That beast of yours is feeding off all of doubts about the future and guilt about the past.
Forgive yourself. There is nothing you can do about the past. What got you to this place doesn't matter. What matters is what you do from here.
I think most of us worry about our futures. But right now, this minute, is the only thing that we can actually DO anything about it. You are doing what needs to be done to secure your family's future.
Next time that beast has the nerve to creep out of that corner you have stuffed it, be quick to remind it of these facts.
Hey, Great Blog! You are much too intelligent and too articulate to be homeless much longer. Keep struggling-- it's only a matter of time.
(and yes, the internet has become that big. I'm also logging in from German.) Good Luck!
Todd
(and yes, the internet has become that big. I'm also logging in from German.) Good Luck!
Todd
Failure isn't an option. You've already won. You've shown homelessness isn't a disease - isn't for the weak, the insane, the hopeless. It is for any of us who are forced to live our lives without a safety net.
Your voice is being heard because it is loud, and intelligent, and strong. Keep your faith, move along your path. God has chosen you to shed a little light. That light will shine on those even less fortunate than you.
I know, somehow, homelessness will soon be a distant memory for you. May God bless you.
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Your voice is being heard because it is loud, and intelligent, and strong. Keep your faith, move along your path. God has chosen you to shed a little light. That light will shine on those even less fortunate than you.
I know, somehow, homelessness will soon be a distant memory for you. May God bless you.
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