We're not in Kansas Anymore

There have been some amazing movie lines over the years. Little phrases that capture our attention and seem to sum up the greater narrative of the story. They often pepper our daily lives and seep into our consciousness without a second thought. We have favorite catchphrases we memorize and spout off for all types of certain situations.

Recently I was driving through one of Montana's larger towns. It was a place I was fairly unfamiliar with but trying to get a handle on. The scenery was different and the landscape was foreign from what I am used to in Kalispell. All I could think about was the iconic line from the Wizard of Oz; the one where Dorothy notices that everything has changed and she tells her dog that neither of them are "in Kansas anymore." Her entire world has morphed and is skewed from one comfort zone to another.

Then I wondered what it would be like to have a life that straddled two separate worlds. How would I respond if I were forced to exist in one world but everything around me was a constant reminder of a former life in which things were better? I would still be confronted by the scenery of life, but the colors and hues would be different. The shadows cast would be sadder and longer. It would be incredibly frustrating to plod through a version of life that didn't match the happiness or contentment of the memories from better times. A person might almost forget that the past was anything more than a dream.

I've had conversations with some of our residents that are similar to this. They have become so accustomed to their current circumstances they have no idea how to process their past into anything more than a dream. When they speak about their former lives they hint about things and make subtle references about what life was like. Sometimes I get the feeling they don't believe the past ever even happened. Its sad.

One of the reasons I appreciate Samaritan House so much is that the staff is committed to doing all they can to remind the residents that they don't have to continue living in their current state. Homelessness is not a condition, its a situation. Its not terminal and it can be reversed. Dorothy doesn't have to remain in Oz and she can get back to Kansas one day.

Its a process and it takes some work, but we strongly believe that creating a positive living environment for our residents implies not just helping them improve the present or anticipate the future, but also helping them recall those days that were so dear to them. Life doesn't have to be a dream.