Emerging Courageous Online Magazine - Stories
That Human Touch
by Celeste Wilson
"Motivated by examples of how genuine human
kindness has the power to turn people's lives around, one woman envisions her
own constructive pursuit and resolves to begin it." - The GoodLetter
www.GoodThings.com
Fellow GoodLetter readers,
My name is Celeste Wilson, and I live in Colorado. Until recently, I had been
homeless for two years, as a result of multiple sclerosis. I am working to begin
my own non-profit organization, the Box Foundation.
I have some college education, and I was a professional at one point, earning an
excellent income, before a rape threw me into trauma and post-traumatic stress
disorder. After subsequent psychological and personal problems, I was diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis and was unable to work. I became homeless, living
in my truck. I have recently been approved for disability, and after two years
of being homeless, I have finally gotten an apartment and found housing
assistance.
I was deeply touched by last week's GoodLetter about the non-profit Women of
Means from Judith Perry in Boston [#95, Means To A Better End].
While I was homeless these past two years and living off credit cards, I knew I
had to do one thing to keep my self-esteem up. So I took one class at the
college each semester. The class I chose was the Honors seminar series class,
the first step in an attempt to go back and finally finish my degree. This
Honors class allowed me to study the marginalized community of the homeless on
both the community level and the national level -- while I lived the experience
-- and then present my findings to collleges throughout the state and then the
western United States at a regional conference.
I have been so moved by my experiences -- mostly by reading the writings of
other homeless individuals, by realizing how deeply their self-esteem is
affected, how much self-esteem is lost, by hearing the questions people ask, and
by realizing that lack of communication is creating a barrier, a gap that some
of the homeless -- unless that gap is bridged -- will never be able to cross.
The lack of self-esteem, the loss of family, the loss of friends, the loss of
community that the homeless experience was astonishing to me, both as I
experienced it, and as I read the words of others that came from their hearts.
By beginning her non-profit and by providing health care to homeless women, Dr.
Roseanna Means gave more than health care; she gave them the feeling of being
cared about. Doctors in our society give health care all the time without
hearing their patients. Without listening. Listening is essential to self-
esteem, as is knowing you are heard and knowing you are not invisible.
That is the core idea behind the Box Foundation. The Box Foundation will
collect used goods to be distributed to homeless people, but the emphasis will
be on new items. So many people shop at bulk warehouse stores such as Sam's and
Costco these days, where they want one tube of toothpaste but buy three. They
can throw one of the tubes of toothpaste in a box they keep in their house. Or
if they shop at K-Mart or Target, they can just buy a package of underwear or
socks or soap or shaving cream or razors or an extra toothbrush and throw it in
the box. That's why my non-profit will be called the Box Foundation. We'll
accept the used books they are not going to keep. We'll need
"forgotten" items that other non-profits overlook.
Since the Box Foundation is a new organization, people have asked me why I will
not be distributing the goods through other already established foundations. To
me, what Dr. Means offers her patients is my example of why. A tube of
toothpaste doesn't raise self-esteem, nor does a package of socks. Being
recognized by another human being, being able to talk, being listened to, and
being looked in the eye is vital in our world. It lets an individual know they
are alive, they have value and worth, they are not forgotten, and they are
worthy not just of used goods, but of new things, of effort, of time, of hearing
their own name spoken, of getting to know their name, and of human contact. I
want the Box Foundation to be able to add this kind of outreach to homeless and
disadvantaged people.
Humans need human contact. Being homeless often means no one will look you in
the eye, ever ask your name, or care about you. It means forgotten holidays. I
once read something in the Denver Voice homeless newspaper, written by a
homeless man. He stated he wanted to be part of the world in "dance, song,
laughter, food, prayer, sports, food, and merry times...and I miss it so...I
miss you so...do you know how long it's been since I've played?"...I
miss the touch of human companionship so." A number of such writings have
moved me incredibly. I wish I could quote them all.
My point is this: human touch is vital to health, and listening is vital, and
Dr. Means has not forgotten the importance of simply caring. And I am so
grateful for simply reading Judith Perry's GoodLetter about Women of Means and
Dr. Means work today, as I search for the willpower to begin my venture to make
to make a difference in my corner of the world.
All any of us can do is begin where we are. There are two quotes that give me
much strength, as I try to begin something this large, only one and one-half
months after I have establishing stable housing. The two quotes are by Marianne
Williamson (and later used by former South African President Nelson Mandela in
his 1994 inaugural speech), and the second is by Goethe.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is
that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that
most frightens us. [...But] as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
-- from Marianne Williamson's book RReturn to Love
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.... All sorts of things occur to help one that would
never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the
decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings
and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his
way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius,
power, and magic in it. Begin it now."
-- Goethe
:: Celeste Wilson
Denver, Colorado
(Thoughts on Celeste's GoodLetter? Inspired by what you've read? E-mail
us -- don't forget to tell us your name, where you're from, and if we
can use your words in a future GoodLetter or on our Web site.) http://www.goodthings.com
Reprinted with permission (c) [email protected]