IN YOUR OWN WORDS PEACE IS HARD TO COME BY BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR WHEN I THINK ABOUT SUCCESS IN HOMELESSNESS BY ZAKKAYIAH BROOKS, VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA REAL PEACE IS SO HARD TO COME BY. People chase it all the time, and most will never find it fully. We let people control our minds by saying mean things. They may have hurt you so deeply, And you keep playing it your head, over and over again. You can’t let it go. You may have been wronged by family or a close friend. We, as people today, have trouble speaking up or just walking away. Today, everyone wants to be right all the time. I don’t understand why people keep letting others rent space in your head, And guess what? They don’t pay you any rent money to be staying in your head! If someone hurt you, or said hurtful things, LET IT GO! Why do we allow things to keep our mind running full speed and not in a good way? Until you stop giving your power to others, you will not find peace. Love yourself enough to stop letting others define who you are. Care enough to walk away from people who really want you to be in pain. People who are broken will hurt even more people. The old saying is so true, Misery loves company. So don’t fall for it, or in time, you will become someone who will hurt others. Stop hurting yourself. Eat and go to bed at the same time every day. Do something special weekly to help yourself unwind. Find what makes you happy, and remember, only you have the power to make your life as peaceful as you want it, or you can allow your life to be in turmoil. Peace, real peace, is hard to get, but if you are lucky enough to find it, hold on tight to it. Don’t let go, or start to allow others to take your happiness. Always keep your peace of mind. You are worth it, Self! ■ ZAKKAYIAH BROOKS. CREDIT: ANTHONY CORNEJO WHEN I THINK ABOUT SUCCESS, I think about dignity, pride, future, self-belief, [being] active, outgoing, openminded. When I think about homelessness, I think struggle, sad, depression, disappointed, let down, unfocused, disbelief. When I put the two words together, it’s success in homelessness. When I think about success in homelessness, I think about goal-making, putting the most important’s first, the needs first, not the wants Sacrifice the got to haves for the do withouts Success in homelessness means achievement, belief, prayer, God, get off your ass, making phone calls, getting resources, asking someone for help, taking a walk, talking to people, going into restaurants and putting in job applications going to day centers and using their computers P.S. All success in homelessness is because you achieved all of your needs instead of your wants to make it happen, to succeed I have come a long way, so I commend myself. Every day, I wake and go to work. I have worked hard enough to know these tactics work. ■ “BACK ON THE STREETS” BY REA BROWN, VOICE VENDOR REA BROWN. CREDIT: GILES CLASEN Editor’s note: For our March issue, Denver VOICE vendor, Rea Brown, wrote a piece for this section called “Back on the Streets.” He wrote it in homage to Brian Augustine, who passed away in January. When he died, Augustine was writing a monthly column about what it was like to return to living on the streets when he could no longer afford his rent. Brown intends to continue contributing, or to encourage other VOICE vendors to contribute something in honor of Brian Augustine’s legacy. IN LIGHT OF THE OVERWHELMING BLIGHT endured by so many who appear to have lost the fight or might. Burdened with the iron sky that rains fright, frost and die like a backpack that slacks, digs, and drags I. Glad tidings are wished by and bye but insurmountable mountain echoes it’s not worth the try. Under the heel of defeat on every side the eye sees amidst the dark abyss the likeness of a firefly that glows bolder as it draws closer to all alive surprise A stranger with strange behavior as if they wish to be your savior but under the circumstances can only do for you a favor with flavor they say, Sir may we offer you some pie. In other words, I use to wonder why people would eat when they got sad or depressed but the truth is I don’t know if it’s the fact that food is so hardwired into the human psyche that it can take your mind off your problems momentarily. Although I don’t believe it is good to over indulge it is my unprofessional opinion that homeless people could feel a lot better if they can enjoy a good meal in normal conditions sometimes. ■ 12 DENVER VOICE April 2023
13 Publizr Home