Living now

Darren is one of the more 'famous' homeless people in Port Elizabeth. Every day he begs at the same traffic lights. He is hard to miss with his long blond hair.

I took Darren out for a KFC meal. He ordered a chocolate milkshake and a Zinger burger with chips. I had a coffee.

We sat down and chatted about life. I asked Darren some questions.

Like most of my homeless friends life has been tough on him. I guess life is not just tough for my homeless friends.

Maybe life is tough for you right now...

I asked Darren how he finds happiness..

I find happiness in the now. Right now I am happy. I am drinking a chocolate milkshake. That makes me happy.

I am quite a happy man. I try to live in the moment. Most of you always try to live in the future. You get home in the evening and have a nice meal with your family. You should be happy, but instead you start talking about work. Straight away dropping that word - work - in the moment makes you think about tomorrow and the responsibilities that are coming your way.

Stop thinking about tomorrow, even about later today. Live now. If now makes you happy. Be happy. You can only live now. Worrying about tomorrow will not add anything.

I sat there silently thinking. Feeling ever so slightly tearing up. It make me realize I need to enjoy the now more and tomorrow will take care of itself.

What are you grateful for now? 

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I am God

Dion makes his home on a grass street corner, a few km from where we live. Ironically, he lives in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Port Elizabeth. Every night he sleeps under the same tree bordering a golf course.

This afternoon, I went out on the streets to give out apples, hats, socks and toothbrushes given to me by a couple of friends.

I had a chat with Dion. This is his story:

My name is Dion. I have been living on the streets for 10 years. I used to live with my mom. When she passed away 10 years ago, her house was sold. I got a bit of the money from the house sale, but I had nowhere to live. Soon thereafter I ended up on the streets.

The good news is that this is my second life. My first life was on another planet. On that planet I lived with three sisters. One of them really liked me.

I built cars on the planet. Lots of them. I had a factory without any people and I built 1000 cars per day. Today I am just trying to get my machine back. My machine to suck up people.

When I have my machine back I will suck up all the people. I will then only release the people from Port Elizabeth and the people I like.

I have many children. I have over a thousand children. I did not get them through a relationship with a woman. I made them.

At this point I felt compelled to interfere and ask a question:

So you lived on another planet and made children. How did you do that?

His answer:

Well I am God.

The three sisters were first God, but they went to parliament and signed all power to me. I own all banks and factories. I am just waiting for the banks to release my money so I can go and pick up my machine to sort out this mess.

The sad truth is that he really believes his story. He is convinced that he is God.

Weird and so tragic. This man does not belong on the streets. He belongs in an asylum, where he can be cared for and shown love.

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An apple brings Happiness

A while back, when I was hanging out with 5 homeless people in our local park they asked me for food.

I had a green apple in my pocket. I felt bad giving them one apple. What can 5 people do with one apple?

So I gave my apple to one of the guys. They all were so happy. They all said thank you and they seemed to mean it. They then went on to divide the apple in about 5 equal pieces and ate it.

This sharing in the park has made me think in the last couple of days.

I try to pursue happiness. I want to be happy. I want to feel happy.

I am sure there is nothing wrong with that.

But I have been challenged to find happiness in the little things in life.

When I find happiness in something I often don't take time to enjoy it. To be happy in that moment and to take in that happiness. To fill my heart and soul with happiness.

Instead I am already looking for the next thing. Planning. To the point of worrying. Searching for something more......

When we find happiness we MUST STOP...... and take it in.

What makes you happy?

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The wind of change

I have been challenged to change some things in my life. I have a personality that withers under the stale and static of life. They scare me. I want to continually be an innovator. I want to be an adventurer. I want to live life to the full.

At some point, everybody needs to change something in their lives. (Tweet This)

My friends on the street have a big struggle with addictions... Most of them, about 93%, have a serious alcohol, drug, or a substance addiction. They know the harm and want to change. They don't really want to be junkies. They don't want the life they are living.

They want change, but they are not willing to pay the price.

I am not judging them. I want change in my life, but it costs. I am not always willing to pay the price.

Change often sounds like a nice idea, but in reality it means letting go of something or someone. It often means taking risks and facing our fears.

Change is a beautiful word when it applies to others. They need to change this or that...

My homeless friends know they need to stop using substances, but they are not willing to pay the price - going to rehab. Going through the withdrawal process.

This is the scary thing. Some of them have been to rehab, but fall back in their old habits within months. They paid the price and not much changed after all.

A psychologist friend said that 80% of people want to make major changes in their lives. Of those 80% only 20% will succeed. All the others will return to their old ways and be stuck their forever.

What do you want to change? Are you making it happen? 

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