“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about
your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what
you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these. ...”
Matthew 6:25-34
It is easy to be grateful for the human-angels, miracles, delightful
surprises (“Happy Birthday!”) and JOYS in life. Therefore, I challenge you to find and feel GRATITUDE for the unique
challenges you are currently facing--whether they be divorce, dis-ease, death
of a loved one, foreclosure, poverty, un-safe environment, etc. I have a theory that finding gratitude in every aspect of our lives, especially
the “uncomfortable” parts, is the key to tangible healing, wisdom and
compassion. **Just a theory ;)
Therefore, I have started looking at my own unique “challenges” and
identifying the hidden gifts.
For a year now, I have been living as a “conscious nomad”;
however, most people would refer to
me as “home-less.” It is true! I do not have a home of my own! How this came about was 1/3 a conscious
decision; 1/3 scientific experiment on self (*testing MY TRUST in a loving,
abundant Universe); and 1/3 due to economic forces (out of my control). In other words, living homeless has been a
very 3D exercise in my ability to gracefully let go and allow (*and just know,
some days are better than others!)
I am not going to lie to you, this whole experience has been
very challenging (physically,
emotionally, spiritually and intellectually), VERY humbling, sometimes
stressful (*imagine asking yourself, “So where am I going to sleep TONIGHT?!”)
and has constantly tested my “faith”, my patience and my self-worth.
However, I CHOOSE to see the GIFTS of being home-less:
1.
Being homeless FORCES you to
“live in the now” and reminds you DAILY
what
TRUST really means—it means not knowing where you will eat, bathe and sleep
any given night and trusting the Universe (working through other people and
circumstances) will provide and your needs will be met.
*In my experience, I have been overwhelmingly
BLESSED!
*For proof, just visit my Facebook page and
look at all my photos over the past year!
https://www.facebook.com/kellyofthepattersons
2.
Being homeless makes you vulnerable, makes you
humble, forces you to ask for help—all which can serve to break down protective
barriers to your heart AND diminish EGO.
3.
Being homeless is a constant daily practice of GRATITUDE for every bed (or couch,
air-mattress, yoga mat, etc.), every meal, every shower (*and especially bubble
baths!), every warm-cozy place, every “little” luxury—from juicing to “movie
night” at home; from turning a living room into a roller-rink to doing your
laundry.
4.
Being homeless shows you the true value of friendship and turns
strangers into friends. Nearly half the
places I have stayed over the past year were with strangers, who are now
beloved friends and SOUL FAMILY. *I
cannot say THANK YOU enough, but I will try!
;)
5.
Being homeless changes your values and
priorities, you let go of the superficial (like gossip, petty disagreements and
discomforts like traffic and noisy neighbors, etc.), allowing yourself to
deeply connect with yourself and others.
6.
Being homeless shows you what TRUE GENEROSITY looks like. It is LOVE-based SHARING without the
expectation (or demand) of something in return.
7.
Being homeless gives you a unique brand of freedom—which has allowed me to travel
all over the continental United States over the past year (*and have a damn
good time while doing it!)
8.
Being homeless has given me the opportunity to
break the stereotype-du-jour of “The Homeless” in general. So whenever I catch someone speaking
negatively about “The Homeless”, I chirp, “Well, I am homeless too!”
9.
Of course, being homeless also means I have no
bills: no mortgage, no utilities, no insurance, no taxes, no water-heaters to
fix, etc.
10. Being
homeless has no doubt been a multi-level enriching experience for me and I am
eternally grateful to all the people who “showed up”, especially over the past
year, and have been part of my experience. Thank you for your true generosity,
love and compassion. You have all reminded me that LOVE is limitless...
All THAT appreciation said, my new intention for myself is to create my own
warm-cozy home which will serve as a LightHouse—a sanctuary for myself and
others-- *and preferably near a warm ocean!
Live your bliss,
Kelly N Patterson (aka, The Goofy Guru)
