A Word of Introduction to Simply Frightened
In this blog we will be looking at the powerful emotion that most of us do not have to deal with. It is called Frightened. To be frightened is to be made afraid an the most powerful image is this, a child afraid and cowering in the corner, that is a picture we can all see. But, what about the adult who is continually frightened with no safe place. Those of us blessed with housing and food and cars often do not understand the detrimental emotion of being constantly frightened. They live in, eat in, sleep in and move in this state and the new wonder why they do the things they do.
Frightened and afraid and scared, people are not nice, they are mean and rude and don’t understand that I will not harm or hurt them, I am so scared. And the police, forget the police. They are under a mandate from the tax payers to make us vanish! I have nothing against police, but it is tough getting woke up in the middle of the night and having to move on or go to jail, very tough. Oh, who is us, the homelessness, the disadvantaged, the ones whom society chooses not to see.
All I want is a place to sleep, to sit and to rest and it is not possible on the streets and the shelters, not happening, those are few and far between and they can be dangerous places also. Frightened all the time, who is going to harm me, who is going to report me, who is going to steal from me, when will I be arrested next? Also, when I am given food is it safe to eat or did the person mess with it before giving it to me? Frightened. So sorry, I sound like negative nancy right now but I am so frightened I can’t help it, sorry.
Here is the sad part, I used to be one of those humans that would avoid and ignore the homeless begging and asking for help on the streets and say mean things under my breath about them. But little did I know that life would hit me hard one day and I would end up on the streets myself. Frightened as they are, scared as they are, in need as they are and unable to rest, relax or find true help. Yes, it is true, my name is no longer Howard, it is frightened! This is no way to live, but somehow we are expected to survive out, but how?
If I ask for food will the person throw something at me, will they give me something that will make me sick, if I lay down to rest or sleep will the police be called to roust me and arrest me, if I stop at a bus bench to rest my tired feet will I be reported for littering? If I am holding a drink in my hand will the police come and surround me because they automatically believe it is an open container? Oh, yeah, you don’t know that term, an open container, is an alcoholic beverage. Even if it is a soda they will pour it out because they ‘believe’ it is hiding alcohol, no rest or peace.
You can see this level of fright in animals’ eyes, those animals that have been hurt and beaten and then removed from that environment or those that the owners surrender for some dumb reason, this fright in their eyes, that is our daily state of life. It is hard to imagine that this nation allows humans to suffer like this but not stray animals
What frightens you, what is it that goes bump in the night in the darkest hour that brings fright to you? Is there anything, or are you blessed with peace that is lasting and staying? When was the last time you were truly frighten and had that fight or flight moment, when, if ever, I know we have visited that place, but that is where I now live. Fright, who will hurt me, who will report me, who will steal my stuff, and will the police just arrest me for a minor offense or will I be abused? Again, my new name is Frightened!
