to me the city (New York city) is a living breathing entity . I go certain places I can feel the breath, Like Washington Square, Park where I’m surrounded by an energy of life by the people and the city itself. The feeling of the energy is invigorating to me. Strangers project, a staple of the park is solely responsible for my return to writing. Washington sq park saved my life in that sense.
The living breathing City has always cared for me, even in my darkest sleeping on the street times. I’ve never gone hungry here. I used to walk up to the food trucks and tell them I was homeless and starving ,they would feed me, restaurants, Halal carts. People would give me their doggy bag of lobster macaroni and cheese. When my stomach growled I was taken care of, always.
⬆️The amazing Washington sq park dancer @lethairdown.. only in NYC, where she channels the energy there (photo credit @jikaiah_artist_nyc )⬆️
And now I have a roof over my head, because of the city. I live rent free in Supportive Housing for people with mental health diagnosis. Not in the four-man room or something like that in a in a beautiful apartment with one roommate it with his own room.
It’s not perfect, but it’s better than sleeping outside. It took a lot of paperwork and time to get here but I’m safe I’ve got a nice bed, and it’s an environment where I can grow through working on myself.
It’s an NYC program. I have a lot of guardian angels but the living city has always taken care of me, and I’m grateful. That’s why I’m so in love with the place.
It Feels like we both went through a hard time together during Covid and we’re both trying to recover the best we can. not perfect, but better than before. We all stumble sometimes, that’s life.
I’m still poor as fuck, though
