This past week has caused me to reflect on a number of things that encapsulate my life. The project in general has caused me to look at my life and the things in it in a completely different light. There are millions of people that go without basic needs, things that I try not to take for granted, but in retrospect I take a lot for granted. This project has been at the forefront of my mind for the past month, partially because it's part of the course requirement, but mainly because this population really has my heart.

The stereotypes of being homeless could potentially hurt more than actually being homeless (I was raised to call homeless individuals neighbors, so in this blog when I refer to a neighbor, I'm speaking of a homeless individual). When interviewing individuals most of them were more hurt by the way people treated them, rather then their unwillingness to help. We tend to stereotype all homeless individuals into categories into that consist of drug abusers and lazy people; rather than seeing them as battered women, veterans, or teens that escaped abuse.

 A while ago, in the midst of a somewhat busy day I happened to be walking down the drag with nothing but the worries of the day on my mind. There was a neighbor sitting on the stoop of a church, and I was about to completely bypass him, without even noticing that he was there, he yelled to me "MISS!!", and out of my daze I glanced at him with an expression on my face that read "WHAT DO YOU WANT!"...he then flashed his sign and it read "Could you spare a smile?". That day I believe was the lowest day I've had in a long time. I was so engulfed in my own life at the time,  I didn't have a minute to spare for someone else. I didn't think about other peoples needs, or what they are going through, I was selfish in my thoughts, and that is not the person that I am, or who I want to be.

I think that that particular day spurred my interest in the homeless community even more then before. That's when I began volunteering at the Trinity center and committing my time and energy to something bigger than myself. When our group came up with the concept for project H, I was somewhat nonchalant on the outside, but beaming on the inside. Austin is doing so much for the homeless population, but there are so many other things that could be done, if people could simply spare a little time and money. Homelessness will not cease over night, but we can certainly change the community one step at a time.

Also, thank you all who've already contributed to the food drive:)!!!

     There was once a time when our elders were revered, but now many of us treat them as if they are lacking physically and mentally and can no longer take care of themselves. In the Adams text it states that even though elders could live for seventy years they are still capable of functioning as a forty year old.

I am guilty of just this thing. I never realized that I was treating my Nana (grandmother) so disrespectfully. She’s been here for seventy-six years and now I feel as though I have the right to question her motives and every move she makes. I feel like her growing age effects all of us. We all worry about her health and her well being, but we struggle giving her the independence she deserves. My family doesn't mean to treat her as though she's incompetent or can't take care of herself, but at times it seems inevitable.

I found this clip that reminded me of different types of ageism...

On another note, I also struggle with the the replacement of older female news anchors with younger ones. It's not enough that we live in a world where we are constantly engulfed with trying to age gracefully and look younger than our years, but we are losing jobs because of it, and promoting this unhealthy lifestyle to our children.  Like this Walmart ad...

Ageism is a constant struggle for all of us. Whether it's trying to look younger or act older then your years we all have difficulties trying to adjust to the world. I couldn't imagine being older and trying to transition into this world where we have computers, and cell phones and all of this technology that even takes me a while to adapt to. I went home a month ago and tried to teach my Nana how to use my touch screen phone and it was extremely difficult for her. I know that I keep referring to my Nana, but that's really the only older adult that I can relate to.

I found this pic that I thought was culturally taboo.

Question: Is me thinking that this should be considered taboo a sign of my own ageism?

Ableism

When I read the word Ableism, my mind usually tunes into the concepts of "the ability to do something". Then my mind starts to wonder if I constantly thank God for the ability to walk, read, breath, simple everyday tasks, or if I'm taking these things for granted. After my initial thoughts, I tend to feel guilty because of all the things that I'm able to do while there are millions of people out there that aren't. I am a part of what the world considers "normal", and honestly would I trade that, no, but by no means does it give me the right the negate the fact that the the world see's people with disabilities as "abnormal".

People tend to look at people with disabilities as inadequate or incapable of doing the things that the "norm" can do, but that is what needs to change. In one of the the chapters As Much Love as You Can Muster the author Lesley Jones who wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome until he was an adult,  discussed how growing up he wished that adults would have focused on what he could do, rather than what he couldn't do. People constantly looked as he pitfalls instead of what he could achieve and how far he'd come though he struggled.

I truly believe that society has poisoned our minds to make us believe that different is wrong, and the inability to conform to the norm is unacceptable. It's common that most people think of the loss of limbs, or someone of special needs when thinking about people that are disabled, and we sometimes fail to realize that disabilities come in all shapes, forms and fashions. I feel that when exploring the world of disability it is important to look at all aspects and not just focus on what society has proclaimed as different.

This may be taboo to bring up, but I feel as though it is important; when having encounters with people that are labeled as disabled some people don't know how to approach them. You don't know whether to look and acknowledge that they are there, or not look out of fear that they'll thinking that you're staring; I think that it may be an uncomfortable situation for all people involved.

On another note, my friend and I were discussing this topic and she shared this video with me. It amazes my mine that people have such small minds and are so hurtful. The title of this video had the word UGLY in it which completely blew my mind..."anywho" here goes...

This topic just really has my head fuming.........