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| That Poverty Guy (Sean Krausert) Day 22 - Bad Hair / 225 lbs |
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As has become my custom, Saturday is my weigh-in day. I dropped a couple of pounds this week, which brings me to 225 lbs . . . eight pounds lighter than when I started. I think it might have been even greater loss, but I thinked I gained a pound or two from the delicious anniversary lunch yesterday bought by my lovely wife Janet, which turned out to be Indian instead of sushi (the lunch . . . not Janet). Not to worry though (as if you were), the chores that I agreed to do in exchange for the lunch will likely burn off anything gained.
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After a very pleasant night, this morning was a busy time for me. The last couple of days I've spent too much time and energy in my head . . . that large, lonely cavernous space between my ears providing quite fertile ground for fears and doubts (as I have written about). So, I spent about 20 minutes meditating in the glorious early morning sun . . . and then got to work. First up was doing some yard work as promised (part of the "lunch deal") - mowing the law and trimming the edges. Next, I rambled down the street to look after the cat, hermit crabs, fish, and bird along with watering the plants of the neighbours who hired me to do so while they are away (. . . still curious as to what I will be paid). And, finally I did my laundry. I've noticed that my forearms are either getting stronger or I'm developing better wringing technique and my hands are getting used to the cold water. Getting out of my head and doing physical stuff really helped me be in the moment, and my concerns and fears melted away.
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Now that I am finding a rhythm with my new lifestyle (sort of) . . . I'm looking forward to branching out to new experiences and bringing voices of other people to you. These voices will be of those who are working on the 'front lines' of poverty . . . shelters, food banks, police, relief & development workers, and social service agencies. This Wednesday I will be catching a ride into Calgary and meeting up with some people at The Mustard Seed Street Ministry (www.theseed.ca). Not long afterwards I will upload a short video of the interview with them. As for experiencing different things, one of next ones will be bottle picking to earn some cash. Don't forget to vote on the right side of this page for how much you think I will earn.
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The key to alleviating poverty is getting a lot of people aware of the issue and each doing their little bit to help. Getting a lot of people involved also creates a loud voice for our leaders to hear . . . declaring that we care about others and that we want to make sure everyone has their basic human rights met. To that end, please help connect people to this project by sharing this blog, encouraging others to subscribe, to "like" on Facebook, etc. You know the drill . . . let's get the word out! Tenki ya!! ( . . . as they would say in Sierra Leone, West Africa.)
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And finally, the thought I thunk that has caused me to go "hmmmm" ever since (resulting in quite the odd stares from passers by). I was minding my own business . . . kneading my laundry . . . when I noticed quite a bit of helicopter activity going on in the valley. Now this isn't unusual because there is a local company that offers helicopter tours. And, occasionally, it is quite sensational . . . like about five weeks ago when three large military helicopters accompanied by fighter jets flew over (Will and Kate were off for their day in a remote mountain lodge). But today it was different, the activity being rather sudden and chaotic, and then it was done. I saw the last helicopter . . . it had a man dangling from it on the end of a long line. Ahhh . . . a rescue mission . . . that made sense. But, it also got me thinking . . .
Somebody makes a conscious decision to put their life in jeopardy by climbing up the side of a mountain, falls off injuring themselves, and we send a team of professionals in helicopters to rescue him or her (followed by a team of paramedics, who then bring the person to a team of medical professionals). However, if another person makes some choices not intending to put their life in jeopardy, falls into life on the street, and there is very little in the way of official response or rescue (. . . rather, leaving it to overburdened and underfunded street organizations to do what they can with the little that they have). WHY IS THAT?
No, really . . . why is that? It's not a rhetorical question . . . I would love to hear from you if you have some ideas as to why we expend so much to save one person who partook in a life threatening endeavour (which I believe wholeheartedly that we should rescue them), but then do relatively little to rescue those who have fallen into life threatening situations on the street. Please send me your comments so that this incessant "hmmm"ing can stop.
Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.
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When I had a heart attack a year ago, I was taken to hospital by ambulance. I was perfectly conscious and coherent and as we are heading down the highway, in between trying to find a vein in my arm to insert a line, I was asked if I had my provincial health care card with me. I had my purse with me and so I said yes. They took down the number. A couple of weeks later I got a bill for $80 which is the amount the government won't pay for that sprint by ambulance and it's about 1/3 of the total bill. So if I didn't have the coverage would I have been dumped on the side of the road OR if I had coverage but they could tell that I couldn't possibly have the extra $80 would I have been let out when we got 2/3 of the way there? On the bill, it listed the costs of other services such as emergency airlifting services and they were very expensive. God help you if you were from out of province and fell off a mountain because the cost was horrendous. So good service and "rescuing from death's door"...no matter the scenario...costs money and so it appears that "if ya can't pay ya can't get rescued." I am not usually a cynic but we do live in a two-tier (or three or four)society and the 'haves' get rescued and the 'have-nots' are left on the side of the road. I have often wondered what would have happened if during that ride I had said that I didn't have any coverage.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting . . . and very sad statement about our "universal" health care. It would be worse in other places. So now the question becomes . . . if that's the way it is . . . is it right? I, for one, do not think so. There are things you should be able to get only if you can pay the price, and emergency services and access to health care are not some of them.
ReplyDeletei never would have thought what u "hhhmmmmmm"d about after seeing the man dangling at the end of the rope...but i love that u did!!!
ReplyDeleteso true...why do we not rush into rescue those with an obvious face of need....they sit on every other street corner? yet why is their no provincial emergency call out? worse yet...why do i not stop to ask if i can help??
i admit i do help those hungry and will feed someone...but there is so many that may just need an ear to listen, a guide to where they can sleep...etc.
thanks for this post especially sean!
we cannot forget the less forunate! how else can they become fortunate?
I like that . . . "We cannot forget the less fortunate! How else can they become fortunate?" Thanks Interior Gal.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I got to thinking about people who make a big deal about going overseas to help the poor people there. "Going on a mission" they call it. I was at a yard sale this past weekend in which they were raising money to send someone to Thailand to help girls who had been sold to prostitution.The woman was telling me about this shocking situation there. I told her that this happens too in Canada. Girls/women are being sold and kept as prisoners for prostitution. And I went on to tell her that, did she know that my people the First Nations are very poor and need help too? In some communities there are about 18 people to a house and they have to take turns sleeping. They have no clean drinking water, no schools etc. Why do more people not look in this country to help poor people, there are many. We don't have to go overseas to find them. I hope what you are doing brings more awareness Sean.
ReplyDeleteI've made other comments in FB page, in case they look familiar
Yes, I will be raising awareness about those suffering on our reservations here in Canada. In fact, I hope to do an video interview with someone specifically on this topic. There is poverty everywhere . . . here in Canada and elsewhere around the world. I encourage everyone to help a little bit more wherever their heart guides them. For some this will be overseas, which is fantastic; and for others it will be here in Canada, which is equally fantastic. Poverty knows no borders, and so anyone helped anywhere is a step in the right direction.
ReplyDelete