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I was on the streets from 15-19 due to circumstance and an attitude born out of sadness, anger, frustration and deep hurt. As a young woman I had a crash course in both the best and worst of humanity, through those experiences I bonded with others who similarly lived in that reality. Where I had never experienced unconditional love, trust, or emotional safety within my birth family, I now found it with my brothers & sisters of the street who bond out of a need to forge community and find safety in not being isolated out there. Like myself these "lost kids" got 'it'. 'It' being the difficulty that exists and the will to try to survive in the underbelly of the world. I was lucky, I found my way. But, to those who question about street kids, for some, like myself, the community of the streets is the first place they feel love. Born out of the darkness and uglyness that exists out there, the small rays of kindness bind kids together like nothing else I've experienced. I'm now in my 30's. I have 3 children. I have a University degree. While I wouldn't say those years on the street were 'good', I don't regret them. They taught me how to survive, how to see the truth in people, how to be cautious, and how to be generous--when people shared the very little they had, the gift of generosity was magnified like nothing I'd experienced. The streets aren't kind. They aren't gentle. They are hard, cold, wet, and can be scary. But surviving them together can forge a bond between kids that is hard to break. When kids say they 'liked' being homeless. Perhaps this is what they mean. 

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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