Tags
book, Coach, creative nonfiction, homeless, inspiration, mental illness, mentally ill, poetry, psychiatry, psychology, schizophrenia, streets, writing
Yesterday afternoon my husband and I were sitting around the house when I said, “Let’s go up to Starbucks to get out of the house.”
We walked up to Starbucks and while I ordered us an Arnold Palmer (black tea and lemonade) my husband found us a table. I saw that he had chosen one of the few empty tables next to a homeless man. I waited for our drink and then joined him.
I took out an essay I was trying to revise and said, “This is hard for me to rework. I understood immediately what the editor wants, but actually editing this and making it better is tough.”
The homeless man sitting in the corner said, “Are you a writer?”
“Yes.” I answered him.
“How many books do you have?”
“I have one book that I wrote by myself, and my husband and I published an anthology of fifteen poets. So, I guess I kind of have two books.”
“I am a writer too.” He said.
“What do you write?” He asked me.
I had often told people I write poetry and essays but I had never told them what the poetry and essays were about. I made a guess about this man sitting near us, and decided to answer him honestly.
“I used to write poetry, but now I write essays about living with paranoid schizophrenia.”
“I was diagnosed with that too.” He said.
“What do you write?” I asked.
“My next book is going to be about the power of hello.”
My husband and I agreed that the power of hello was an excellent topic for a book. He told us his name, Brian. He recited a poem he wrote in high school that he said was published. We talked about Frank Lloyd Wright, Hillary Clinton, Monty Python Movies, a British television show, and how he was going back to Michigan at the end of the month.
“How will you get to Michigan?” I asked.
“The city has this program. If you do some community service they will buy you a bus ticket to wherever you want to go.”
“Is someone in Michigan waiting for you?” I asked.
“My father, he is eighty-five.”
Brian said he had some really expensive Coach glasses. He took them out of a bag and showed them to us. They were pink and maroon. My husband and I told him they were nice. Brain said he thought they were worth a lot of money. Then he handed them to me and said, “Here, I want you to have these.”
I tried to refuse the glasses. I told him I didn’t have any money to give him for them. He said, “A gift is a gift. I don’t need any money.”
A gift is not just a gift when it is one of the few things you have.
I hope Brian writes that book about the power of hello. I know his experience on the streets has taught him that most people won’t even look you in the eye. I also hope he takes that bus to Michigan, and receives the care and treatment he needs.
I’ll keep the glasses. I’ll fix them up with my prescription. I’ll wear them as a reminder of Brian, our shared illness, and I’ll try never to forget the power of hello.
Reblogged this on i lived. and commented:
I love this !!!
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Thank you! 🙂
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What a special experience! Thnx for sharing xo
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Thanks! xo
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I love the concept of the power of hello too. This post really gave me somethings to think about. I hope he makes it to Michigan too.
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It was a moving encounter. 🙂
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What an incredible encounter…what a beautiful message…thank you so much for sharing this.
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It was truly amazing. I have the glasses to remind me.
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That would be a great idea for a book! I think one thing that keeps people from saying hello and conversing with people they believe are mentally ill is that they are unsure if they can just have a conversation or if it will lead to a greater level of involvement which they might find too scary, too inconvenient, too embarrassing, too smothering, too costly, etc. The fear of the slippery slope, I think. I.e., what if I get involved and find out I have bitten off more than I can chew?
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Yes, you could be right. I usually don’t get involved with people who are actively talking to voices, because it triggers fear for me, but I spend time with most others. 🙂
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Hello Bryan!
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Awesome
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This is so wonderful 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Ok you got me in tears (on the train on my way to work – yes there are people looking at me strangely). What a great story, must add it to my blog. Thanks for sharing it.
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I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Sarah's Attic Of Treasures ( Will Include Posts From Our Neck Of The Woods) and commented:
Please Read this. It is an amazing story and doesn’t take very long. Thanks A Journey WIth You for sharing this.
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Thank you! 🙂
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This is a really powerful post. I loved it.
Sherry
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Thank you! 🙂
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You know if my hubby would say lets go to Starbucks on the bike, I might actually, a/ go and b/get on the motorcycle. I love Starbucks and make it a point of going once a week for a treat when we go to a doctor appointment.
I hope Brian writes his book! People with the least to give are the most giving.
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I used to love motorcycles, but I’m a little bit nervous on them now. 🙂
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My Dr even told the hubby well it might be your thing but doesn’t have to be her thing
Considering he went on a day long trip that included a message “I damadfed the bike but I’m ok”
He ran over a bungee cord 3 hrs from home – debts in the bike but to him a big deal – boys & their toys
Hopefully later today I can write about my great neuro appointment
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I hope to read your story about your appointment. Have a great day! 🙂
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What an amazing thing to have experienced. I want Brian’s book!!!
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What an awesome experience. I want Brian’s book!!!
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Hello! (so powerful!)
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Thanks! 🙂
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