by Miss Lucky

Created on: July 29, 2008

Testimonies: How I've been affected by acts of kindness

Life can be a series of moments that fly by in a whirl of chaos. Before you realize, the surreal bubble of reality that you've been protected by can be popped in an instant, leaving you confused, scared and seemingly alone in this world. You know the saying; "they just haven't hit rock bottom yet". I have and if not for the random acts of kindness I received I might not be here, writing this today.

My story started while I was living in a car with my boyfriend. After realizing it was time for change, I told him it was over, that I was leaving. Not the easiest thing to do, he was abusive a drug addict and the only person I had in my life at the time. Saying goodbye was hard, but staying would have been harder. Our life was going nowhere, and I knew I had to get out while I still could. So I packed up my things, and turned my back, good, but now what? I hadn't thought that far ahead. I was already downtown and at my day labor job, the one that sent me somewhere, and at the end of the day gave me a check. Plus there was someone there to cash it and buy a couple loosies from. I went to work as usual, needed the money, and there I shared my story with the older wiser women, starting from the beginning, then waited to hear what they had to say. Truth comes from experience. They told me of their hardships and opened up a whole world of help that I was previously unaware of.
One woman said there was a church helping the homeless get back on their feet. With apartments available, counseling, and many other resources for those in need. Yes, I'd heard about that maybe a year before, on the news. Well that sounded perfect, so I had a plan.
I'd been talking all day and had a new confidence about my life and myself. I have to thank my girls for that; they helped me more than they will ever know. After work I said my good-byes to the ladies and returned to the office where my morning had begun.
The woman behind the desk, I'll be honest, scared me beyond all belief the first time I walked in there. She warmed up, and we'd actually had quite a few heart to heart chats. I told her about the church, and how I was ready to start a new life for myself. Without hesitation, she offered to drive me there, and wouldn't take no for an answer. She told me about hardships that she had faced, and how we as humans can overcome anything, as long as we're willing to try. With tears in her eyes, and mine, we hugged and parted ways. Her

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