Originally posted on Facebook, July 22, 2026, on my second day at the shelter. Lightly edited for readability.

The meal tray photograph I shared with the original Facebook post.

I am grateful for the life I have … the love of my family … the friends I have made … and the memories I cherish!

Judged by this society … there is something wrong with me … and I can only assume that to be true.

Being told I was broken

One of my earliest, very vivid memories in life is overhearing my father calling me broken. That really stuck.

Then, for the years to follow, teachers, counselors, and my parents did everything they could to fix me. They talked to me. They medicated me. They told me that there was something wrong with me, but that they were there to help me through it.

When nothing changed me … they turned to locking me in detentions. They took away my belongings and privileges. And they told me that if I didn’t wise up and get in line, I was destined to become a bum.

… and here we are, 50 years later … and they were all right!

But what they failed to see is … I didn’t choose this. I didn’t decide who … or what … I was going to be. I just was me.

And after all of the negative or positive reinforcement that was jammed up my ass to “FIX” me didn’t work … is it any surprise I became exactly what they saw for me?

All I’m asking for

I’m not looking to blame anyone. I love everyone … even those who hate me the most.

I’m not looking to be taken care of. I’m not looking to be understood. I’m only asking to be accepted and allowed to live a dignified existence … just being me.

I don’t just want this for me. I want this for everyone … especially all of the “broken” brothers and sisters in this world who either are never seen or, worse, become ignored.

We all deserve to be accepted and cared for.

Some people in this world would tell you otherwise. I don’t know about you … I think they are the sick ones.

We need to build a world where even the broken are accepted and included in a dignified society.

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My homelessness journey … chapter 3 of 17

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