HOMELESS IN PARADISE

DO SOMETHING CHARITABLE AND LOVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

You have cabin fever.

You can’t get used to wearing a mask.

Your candidate lost.

Your cruise to the Caribbean got canceled due to COVID.

The toilet flushes during your work from home Zoom.

The company cut your pay by a fraction due to the pandemic.

These are minor problems. 

They are fractional reductions in quality of life while we heal physically, psychologically and politically.

People have lost their lives.

Households have lost every job that support them.

Vulnerable people are living each day in fear.

Back off the attitude.

Stop griping.

Search your soul for bias and bigotry -- erase whatever it is that’s causing those destructive thoughts and behaviors.

Do someone a favor.

Buy a grocery gift card for someone in need. Bonus points, do it anonymously.

Embrace life.

Embrace people.

Find something enchanting and interesting and life-affirming in someone who is completely different than you – It’s very easy to do.

Work to make the world a better place.

Do something hands-on to help those who are homeless, jobless, hopeless.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Super Solstice.

About the image: This was taken in the early morning in Downtown Miami. In the postcards boasting sun, sea and sand – Miami is a paradise. To the eyes of anyone who walks the Central Business District between the Miami River and Biscayne Bay – sidewalks, overhangs, vacant storefronts and space under bridges is home to hundreds of homeless people. Was it hard to take this picture? Yes. I walked past a half dozen times. But I am a street photographer and storyteller. As an advocate for people with disabilities in specific and marginalized people in general – I am compelled to tell stories (visually and in words) that are painful, sad and challenging. Harsh images, in turn, can help compel people to get involved in positive change. That is why I left this person to their hopefully peaceful slumber while capturing their heart-tugging image.