4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HOMELESSNESS Forgiveness, the greatest gift to give MOHAMMED ALMUSTAPHA Groundcover contributor "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal." — Earl Nightingale I dedicate this article to all of mankind, to all humanity and to all living creatures on this beautiful planet, and those on other planets and galaxies we have yet to discover, including all plants, trees, their beautiful flowers and sweet-tasting fruits. I start this article by addressing all those humans who might have transgressed, hurt or pained me — you are forgiven. I no longer wish for you to carry the burden and remorse of past transgressions within your souls or mental faculties. I wish for you to find happiness, solitude and serenity in forgiveness, and I hope that you reach self-forgiveness so that your consciousness is cleared and rested. I used to say that I forgive my transgressors and oppressors for the sake and happiness of GOD, hoping that in return when I reach the pearly gates, He might reward me by letting me enter His eternal paradise. But that is no longer the case. As I learn and develop as a human, I have come to realize that it is more important for me to forgive others for their sake, to allow them to enjoy the glorious sweetness of life with no remorse or guilt on their consciousness, as it can be a burden upon one's soul, heart, and being. As I develop and grow, I have noticed that I am leaning more and more towards treating people as how I would like to be treated. For all our uniqueness and individuality, we are still bonded by the same common feelings of happiness, hunger, pain, love and laughter. As I continue down the path of this awkward journey we call life, which never ceases to amaze me both in negative and positive ways, I realize that it is my purpose to be a cycle breaker of hate, revenge and negativity. I only wish that we could all live happily, and while that is an unattainable goal, I shall dedicate my life not to accomplishing it, but to working on accomplishing it, hoping in turn that my attitude and behavior shall positively affect and motivate others to do the same along the way. By forgiving each other, we allow ourselves to be unburdened by a multitude of negative feelings, which in turn will enable us to be happy and be able to enjoy life. I realize that life is too short to be spent in mental agony and emotional distress. By forgiving, we open the doors to mental and emotional creativity, which in turn will increase the collective happiness of humanity. For a human like me who has endured so much pain and suffering, it is only through the power of forgiveness that I am able to proceed forward in life in happiness and joy. While I do have my days and moments of regression, I still hold steadfast to the fact that I am happy in forgiving but not forgetting the lessons. It is wise to practice forgiveness not with naivety but with a degree of understanding. The world is full of evil and treachery since mankind arose. If we continue to be vengeful and revengeful, we only perpetuate the cycle of hate and tyranny. Therefore, my friend, I take the initiative to forgive, to free my fellow humans from the agonizing chains and mental prison of remorse. By forgiving, we plant, cultivate and nurture the seeds of happiness, joy, freedom and peace. We humans are complex creatures, possessing and capable of executing an awesome potential for goodness and love. The greatest gift we can give is the gift of forgiveness, and in return, we receive the gift of that beautiful, honest, deep heartfelt smile of our transgressors as the burden of remorse and guilt is lifted from their souls. It is therefore, my dear reader, that I humbly implore you to open your heart to forgiveness and enjoy its sweet taste. Let us all strive for love, kindness, joy, happiness, friendship and peace. To all those who have harmed and wronged me, I forgive you and wish you happiness. I swear by the beauty of the sky that I harbor no hard feelings. I promise you that when I see you, I will smile in your face, and if you let me, I will hug you, too. And if you are ever short of money for food or medicine, please call me. I only yearn for the sweet smile upon your faces when you realize that you are no longer bound by the guilt or remorse of your transgressions upon me. And to all those beautiful souls whom I have wronged, I ask that you set me free from the burden of guilt and remorse so that I may continue to grow and develop. I love you all. Get awesome and stay awesome. God is good; oh boy, God is good. Remember to forgive not for the sake of God, for He is not in need of us, but for the sake of your fellow man and his relief from pain. Thank you for reading my humble words. MAY 19, 2023 Eras of the Robert J. Delonis Center L. CARLISLE Groundcover vendor No. 56 You must understand that this has been submitted as a true testament. It is in no way trying to bring harm or facilitate ill will. These words' only purpose is to take a sincere look at how we see and perceive. I have experienced and continue to experience both physical abuses and systemic abuses, because this system does not, has not and probably most likely never will acknowledge this, these and those that have failed me. Most people who don’t know me believe what is said about me and forced on me. You have no idea what it has taken to remain as I am. I could have chosen a life of crime, as some people who work in the community mental health profession make it seem on paper, but I have done positive work that those agencies are supposed to promote. I sit back at times and it amazes me how people who are not bankrupt are bankrupt of their ethics because they do not practice fully understanding people as whole. Without a firm foundation, not one thing can or will stand, not long anyways. Any individual that allows themselves in their minds to broach any position or stance must also realize the work, ethic and duty that it entails. You cannot, in other words, want to be in the position or pay grade of a CEO, but not want the responsibility; leadership is a very arduous position. Enough of my views. I am honored to hear directly from this powerful, sturdy, rigid staff and volunteers on what the Delonis Center is to and for them. I myself never want to fathom the doors of the Delonis Center closing. The Delonis Center changed my life in the greatest way. It saved my life from places where I was violated alone in my hometown. I care for everyone that is in the vicinity of the Delonis Center shelter. It provides a place for people to come out of the cold or rest or whatever may be at hand. It saved my life. I first came to the Delonis Center a decade or so ago when Barry Manlowitz was there. I got two jobs within two or three weeks, saved my money and I lived around four months at the Delonis Center. I obtained suitable affordable housing and maintained it for over five years until the place almost shut down. It was condemned about two to three years after I moved. The Delonis Center is not the end of the road. It is a place to begin again or make a fresh start. I don’t understand how institutions such as shelters and hospitals put signs up encouraging people to report abuse, but do nothing when it’s reported, especially when the abuse is done by police or staff. They then turn around and label the person reporting the abuse in an untrue way. All can benefit from completing the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) peer counseling. I have completed the primary meetings. I have found throughout my many years, people tend to deny, debase or label someone who may be as equally groomed and accomplished as them, if not more. I, in my journey, once worked directly with the public as part of the U.S. Census Bureau, and approached doors in order to acknowledge and educate my neighbors. I have also experienced torture from individuals in positions of power. After I‘d already blatantly described the tortures I’ve endured at the hands of some wicked police and perverse ambulance people who get a thrill out of tying you down as you scream to be freed, against my will they shoot me up with whatever to render me unconscious, while they take my clothes off without my permission. Then put me out under strong sedatives without a safe way to get home. Performing illegal search and seizure of my body and my personal possessions — this surely affirms systemic rape. Wrong! We should base our services more on what the strengths of the client are, instead of what a basic provisional practice is. Mary was the last facilitator for the storage on the third floor of the see VOICES next page
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