On the Judgment that I am “Homeless”

I have a lot of judgments passed upon me.
A homeless person, a bum, a vagrant …
A tweaker …
A leech on society …
A no-gooder … Someone to fear …

These are all labels and ideas that people have placed me onto as I am on this long walk.
I get it.
I’m a 38-year-old man, pushing a walking cart down the road, and occasionally sleeping in public places (like this park shelter in Cayucos, California to get out of the rain).

In many ways, I fit the mental stereotype of a “homeless” person and there are certainly people that look like me that are doing drugs on the streets, making a mess and not contributing equitably to society.

But for those who choose to look closer, they see me for the full human that I am.
And many do look closer. In the last 1,350 miles, hundreds of people have stopped to talk to me and hear about my journey with great interest and inspiration.

And for those who look closer at our fellow humanity, they see that each person who is without a home is a full human as well. Each person with psychological struggles is a full human as well. Each person with a drug addiction is a full human as well.

There is no such thing as a “homeless” person. There are PEOPLE who are homeless.
People without homes are just as diverse as people living within homes.
Most people who are houseless, we don’t even notice, but rather we create a stereotype around the people on the streets who catch our eyes the most and trigger certain emotions inside of us. We tend to encompass all unhoused people into this stereotype.

There are many unhoused people who are of service to their community and stewards to the space they are in. And, in reality, the humans making the biggest messes, exploiting the most resources, and inconveniencing the most people are leaders of major corporations and heads of governments. They just have an organization and structure that is accepted by society and operates behind closed doors.

I’ve chosen to live my life far outside of societal standards, so it is to be expected that many people will not understand me.

Long ago I decided to leave people’s judgments with them. I take responsibility to live my life with a mission of deep integrity and harmony.
And others’ judgments are not my burden. That’s their mental stuff to work out.

And because I have love for myself… because I have love for ALL people — what does it matter to me if people label me as homeless? It matters none.

However, I’m happy to be of service as a social reformer in this regard. I do not fit into the boxes. I do not fit most labels. Thus, when a mind focuses on me, critical thought often happens. Critical thought leads to overcoming our biases, our delusions, our preconceived notions, our labels and our judgments.

My job here on Earth is not so much as to have the answers, but to stimulate the questions that result in critical thought and community conversation around a different way to move forward.

Love,
Robin