Dash Bleeds

(a begger collecting money thrown at him)

I've come to realise that I have a very good life. I have everything I need. Sitting here overlooking the harbour. Feeling grateful. Where is my mind and blog going with this?
Well, recently there have been countless natural disasters, both here and overseas. Floods. Fires. Earthquakes. Tsunamis & Cyclones. My heart absolutly bleeds for the people in these catastrophies. There are so many stories of tragedy and loss. People without electricity, water and food. Yet, there are few stories of hope and triumph. Survivors. Courage. Kindness. Yes, the recent events have been terrible. Though focusing on them in such a negative way - just draws in more neagivity. Let's be positive (as much as we can) See the light. See the hope. Believe that we, as one race, can get through. There is so much strength within each of us, imagine what we can do together.
Now something closer to home. As you know, I have made the move to Sydney, Australia. It has been wonderful - [even stacking it in my underpants!] Except one thing. When I arrived, I noticed a few homeless men and women at the train station. All dirty, sad, smelling of alcohol and begging for money. I kept walking. Down the road to where I was staying. As I did what everyone else did, and tried to look past.them, the more I noticed in [no exaggeration] every corner and underpass had homeless men and women sleeping/begging. As much as I wanted to help them all - I couldn't. Or wouldn't? I wanted to sit down with them and ask them their names, why they are homeless. I kept walking, Then I almost trip over someone - a homeless teen. Why on earth isn't he with his family? How did he end up like this? I had never seen so many homeless people in one place, let alone a teen,. someone so close to my age. He could be my brother, my cousin. Has my life been so sheltered from the reality of cities in this supposed fortunate country? I guess in the scale of things, we are fortunate - but I want to see these people successful and healthy - with a roof over their heads.I don't want to see homeless people - that could be taken two ways, so i will rephrase... i don't want to see people homeless.
I will have to sign up to a local soup kitchen in the early hours of my day off. I may not be able to give them a roof, but I can sure help getting food to them.

-dash