‘Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one who is most righteous.’ (Quran 49:13)
Each one of us defines “righteous” in a variety of ways, right down to the simplest thing, like helping someone on the street, or taking care of a best friend. Some people will argue that people should fend for themselves, and if someone is on the street, it’s because they deserve to be on the street, or maybe they’re lazy and didn’t work hard enough to get off the street, and so to help them is not to behave in righteous manner, but rather it is to enable.
The people who would argue the above are definitively: assholes.
Do you remember when you were growing up and people asked what you wanted to be when you were older, and you said: “living on the street” or perhaps “sleeping beneath a bridge”?
No? Me neither.
What about when you answered: “being alone!”
Yeah. Me neither.
My mum tends to travel over the holidays, and most of my friends are usually out of town or at family Christmas dinners drunk and working out their issues. Basically, I have always been — more often than not — alone over the Christmas holidays. Almost everything is closed and a girl can only read so much and see so many films over the course of a few days.
Thing is, even though we don’t celebrate Christmas, I do love all of its accoutrements. On some level, the holiday resonates with me, and so when I’m alone, that resonance can turn into a slight depression in my spirit if I am not careful. I distinctly still remember four years back when no one was even on-line – bbm, facebook, email, text…nothing. It was crushing. As someone who is very comfortable being alone, imagine how bad it had to be for me to actually feel like it was too much.
A couple of tips for the holidays, which you should carry with you throughout your year if you can. (And please note, I am not at all comparing being inside, safe and sound and warm but alone, with being on the street. I am merely trying to make a connection for those of us who would never see a connection between ourselves and those who too many of us ignore.)
First is the easy one: don’t leave your single friends alone. Surely, you must have room for one more. Surely.
To clarify: Possess enough emotional intelligence to note that if they’re there for you 360 days a year, now is not the time to leave them alone. Even a simple “thinking of you” text message is better than nothing. And unless your fingers are broken, there is no excuse to not do this.
There’s something really sad and alienating about being left alone at a time of year that’s meant to be about family, and thankfulness. There is a reason that the highest rate of suicide happens around this time of year. And this is the time of year you are meant to be thankful and loving, and that doesn’t only hold true for your blood kin. Don’t forget about us who may not have family in the City, or who may not normally celebrate Christmas and so are de facto outside of the circle of Noel.
Go through your friend list in your head, and you will find at least one person who fits this description. Now, make a point of reaching out to them and engaging them. Trust me on this one. Please.
Second is the harder one, the more important one of this article: if a regular everyday Maha with a full social schedule and a loving circle of friends can feel so alienated and sad over the holidays, imagine someone who lives on the street. Imagine someone who is already alienated and troubled. The majority of homeless have come from childhoods of abuse; more often than not, it is sexual. Another great majority have mental health issues.
Don’t ever kid yourself about this fact: No one wants to live on the street by choice.
Here’s something I came across recently, which is amazing, and what better way to teach your children about righteousness, than by leading by example?
“Guerrilla Giving,” started (and still happening) by a garbage man in Edmonton. Each year his family and friends fill backpacks for individual homeless people, and hand them out.
In each backpack they include:
A wallet with $25.00 cash (optional if you don’t have it).
A personalised Christmas card, signed by the family.
Christmas treats and snacks or granola bars & soup packets.
Items for warmth such as long-johns, gloves, hoodies, tea light candles, thermos, toiletries.
They target individuals, not those in groups.
They avoid churches and shelters, as they want to give with no pre-condition of religious affiliation.
They always shake their hand, or hug them, and wish them well before they leave them to open their packages.
You don’t need to do this at Christmas. In fact, you don’t need a reason to do this at all, except maybe the active choice to be thankful for your shelter. To be thankful for your food. To be thankful for your ability to have a Christmas tree, at the foot of which your family sits. To be thankful that you were not abused. To be thankful that you do not have a reason to be on the street. To be thankful that you can purchase a backpack and fill it. To be thankful.
And aren’t these reasons truly in the spirit of Christmas? More so than the twenty gifts beneath your tree?
You don’t need to do this at Christmas. But I am placing my bets on this time of year, when people are meant to live within the spirit of this holiday.
I guess this coming year, maybe our resolutions should be on a foundation of: I resolve to not look away.
Happy holidays dear readers. Thank you for sharing your stories and your hearts, for uplifting mine when it has been prostrate on the ground, confused by Heaven’s will. May your season be filled with love, light, and warmth. And may you possess the generosity of heart to share these things with those less fortunate.
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Photo from FinancialJesus(dot)com.
Thank you for this post! The more I get to know you through writing, the more I very much like you!
Now that that’s out of the way –> I hear you loud and clear. It often surprises me how easily friends, who expect friends to be accessible 360 days a year, take a few days off from being accessible to friends during the holidays. Plainly put: It’s fucked. Most people don’t ignore friends intentionally; they just don’t think about it. And I think that’s what hurts. They just don’t think about it.
And this is something I made a mental note of a few years ago. Which sort of translates to: Not letting any of my friends be alone, to the best of my ability. Not just during the holidays, but at any point which may be tender (holidays are always a good place to start).
This year, I have made a point of doing a lot more than I normally do around this time of year. Believe it or not, a great deal of that comes from being connected with folks over Facebook — throw out a status update and the responses are amazing. If friends aren’t emotionally intelligent enough to reach out, then run it yourself. So far, so good for me 🙂
Lots of love,
M
P.S. Diggin’ you too, momma. Always.
Love you, will be thinking of you, and if you send me your #, I will totally text you (probably won’t make it to the computer on the day though).
I want to remind you, however of all of the catastrophes that can, and usually do, occur when families reunite… past issues get brought to light once again, someone inevitably drinks too much and starts something with their sister, or better yet you have to bail someone out of jail on Boxing Day…
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m thinking that the greener grass may apply here.
Love you hon, and I sincerely wish you and your mom the best…
Merry Christmas, I mean Happy holidays, I mean have a terrific Sunday.
Last year, times were tough and I met a homeless woman who, over a cup of hot chocolate, told me that she wants to be on the street because after her sister’s death, no one cared. She just wanted to live the rest of her days on the street. This affected me in ways I can’t describe…… AlhamduliAllah, things are better in my life but I still think of that woman and go to that same spot where I met her and I smile every time (because I don’t find her.)
Long story short, get your ass to my house so we can bake cookies, have fun and reminisce 😉
2) What in the fun/good times is a “waif’s and stray’s party?
3) Do you anticipate any fence jumping at yours, what with the gathered family? 🙂
Maureen — Merry merry merry Christmas, love! This is so perfectly stated: “I have always found giving is far more rewarding than receiving and simply spending time with someone who’s all alone & making them feel worthy is the most precious gift of all” and I couldn’t agree with you more. Thank YOU for your warmth and generosity of time. May your 2012 be as bright and warm as you.
Rooro — YES! As soon as I have my weekend with Elisabeth, I owe you two a weekend in Montreal. InshAllah! I hope your party was wonderful…and thank you for sharing your beautiful story.
Yasmina — I just went to her place and wished her a merry christmas. Thank you for making the connection.
Love and warmth to all.