Better Off (Not) Dead

Humans are sometimes overly dramatic and I think this fact is what separates us from the other animals kicking around this planet. When is the last time you saw an elephant overreact to anything? How often do ferrets freak out? Maybe we are a little more self-aware than the average sloth, but does that give us the right to perpetually turn molehills into mountains?

I recently overheard someone tell another person that their situation was so dire (it wasn't) that they would be better off dead (they wouldn't) than continue on, mired in their circumstance. We throw around phrases like that all the time (hence the drama never found in merecat colonies) without ever considering the gravity of the words we are using. Life is worth living. Life is valuable.

The reason I even bring all of this up is because domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness in Kalispell. Real people are put into really bad situations and they choose to leave instead of staying and allowing the violence (physical, verbal, or emotional) to continue. They survey the situation and decide that homelessness is better than death or serious injury. And the circumstances are ratcheted up exponentially if children are involved. Can you imagine intentionally walking toward homelessness because it was an improvement from your current situation?

Yet we whine like one of the Real Housepersons of Beverly Hills if our the grocers are out of Gluten-free espresso beans.

Many of our residents have been the victim of violence and they made the conscious effort to recognize the value of their own lives instead of succumbing to the grasp and cycle of violence. It is estimated that every 8 seconds a violent act is committed in America. Some of these acts involve moms and dads and kids and parents. Every day people make decisions to improve their lives by embracing a future that is far from stable or certain. When you help Samartian House, you are contributing to the lives and futures of people who, in spite of having few material possessions, recognize the value of life.

And I can think of nothing more inspiring to donate time, energy, or finances toward.