Giving Thanks!

Featured Video Play Icon

Today my plan was to sleep in and that’s about it. I didn’t want to do anything even remotely related to Thanksgiving. But, like most days of my life, God has other plans for me. I believe He often finds great joy in how much He changed my heart. Seriously, I am not that nice. My plan for my life was to relocate back to LA, start a new band, find a wife, and vacation in Hawaii. Of course, nothing went as planned – I was laid off (again), lost my house to foreclosure, and for the most part hit rock bottom (again). I honestly believe if my plan was successful I would not have started InvisiblePeople.tv last November.

Today my plan was to sleep in, which I did but I eventuality I got hungry. Food is such a powerful motivator. We single people get multiple invites during holidays and I would bet we all pick the one where we feel less awkward. I had several places to go. All great places and all great people and I’m sure wonderful food. But the closest thing I have to family on the Best Coast is my homeless friends so I got in the car and drove to Glendale.

Since I was about 20 minutes late I thought I’d walk in to the shelter and it would be one huge love fest of food and friends. Instead, nothing was going on and it was obvious the ‘guest chef’ who volunteered didn’t show up. OUCH! That meant my ‘family’ was not going to have a Thanksgiving meal and there is no way I could let a face like this not have a holiday meal.

Not all stories end well but today’s did, and so did my story. By all signs I should be homeless myself. My gross income since March 15th has been $1,500. You live on that amount in Los Angeles for 9 months!!! Yet, even though I’m still in crisis, my heart was changed and I focused on helping others. That alone is what I believe made the world of difference in my life.

This has been an amazing year! Probably the most amazing year of my life (so far)! So much happened I’m not sure if I could write it all. There are so many people I have to think who believed in me, loved me, encouraged me and supported me. I am so very grateful to each and every one of you.

I am grateful for all the pain that got me to the point where I would do something to help others, and I am grateful for all of you that are riding along with me because together there are so many more people we need to help.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


IP 19 Logo Icon crop

Invisible People

           

We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Until then, we strive to be the most trusted source for homelessness news, education and advocacy.

Related Topics



Get the Invisible People newsletter


RECENT STORIES

80 years old and homeless veteran in Los Angeles needs help

Wendell

Displaced - social impact fim

Displaced: When Surviving Homelessness is a Crime

Homeless man sitting on sidewalk near Skid Row Los Angeles

Prince

homeless woman in Grants Pass

Amber


RECENT ARTICLES

Grants Pass: Cruel and Unusual Punishment for Poverty

SCOTUS’s Grants Pass v. Johnson: Cruel and Unusual Punishment for Poverty

Misinformation about homelessness

Tackling Misinformation: Strategies Advocates Can Use to Spread the Truth About Homelessness

Asylum seekers walking in front of temporary migrant shelter tent in NYC

The Harsh Reality of NYC’s Migrant Shelter Dilemma

how can AI help solve homelessness

Can AI Help Solve Homelessness? It’s Complicated.

Get the Invisible People newsletter