Don't Give Up.

The homeless shelter we lived in had a lot of rules. We had to sign in and out of the building every day. We had a curfew of 9pm. We weren’t allowed to bring anything in that would make the space feel like home- that meant furniture, a tv to pass the time, etc... Random inspections were done to ensure rules were met.

I understand not wanting people to “get settled” into a shelter. But the system was rigged to keep the poor struggling so denying us certain aspects of feeling settled was pretty hard to live through. But part of being human is doing anything to survive and that meant breaking some rules from time to time.

One of the shelter security guards became a secret friend to our family. He found an old television with knobs instead of buttons and one of them was missing but we didn’t care. He snuck it into our space with antenna so we’d have something to do after curfew. It was on that TV that I watched #HomelessToHarvard and cried while holding my sister close and saying, “if Liz Murray could survive homelessness then maybe we will too!” That same security guard friend snuck this bureau into our space so I’d have somewhere to keep my things. Thankfully friends, strangers and the guidance office at my school had given me clothes in the first few months to survive and I needed somewhere to store them.

I took this photo hours before I left the shelter for the last time. I told myself “this will be a reminder of where I’ve come from and where I’m never going back to.” I used to be ungrateful for everything. I used to want to give up constantly.

Homelessness was one of my biggest blessings. It taught me to find gratitude in EVERYTHING.

We all struggle and thankfully on that antique television I watched a story about a teenager just like me who survived her struggle. Thankfully with that bureau I was able to feel settled.

Sometimes we need reminders not to give up, like friendly security guards who show kindness in a really scary time. Other times we find the reminders on social media.

Tonight spirit wanted me to be the reminder. May you never forget where you’ve come from and always remember to look forward to your future.🙏🏼 God bless you. ✨❤