I love having a sense of purpose every day instead of the idle life of being homeless. When you are homeless, you find mundane ways to fill your day. Many days I would sit and watch the workers walking by and wonder where they were headed and what they were doing. Many days I would live vicariously through them.
Being homeless is mental torture. Many days you have this never-ending sense of hopelessness. Becoming a vendor was like the sunshine after the storm. Now I have a sense of purpose and my own glamorous profession. To many, selling Street Sense is neither glamorous nor a profession. But to me, it’s like a lifeline from drowning in depression.
My customers who now acknowledge me daily are the same people I would watch and wonder about. I receive words of encouragement and many smiles. Being a vendor is a wonderful way to network and open doors. I was once an introvert and shied away from strangers. Now I am more open, more engaging, and more confident in myself.
My income may seem insignificant to some. To me it brings a sense of pride and fulfillment. I earned it and I no longer need to solicit handouts. The same people who wouldn’t look at me, who avoided me, now look for me.
Many days I would see Street Sense vendors and think “I could do that.” Now I find I am very good at it. I now want to use vending as a stepping stone to a better position in life. I have the confidence to tackle very important things I once thought would be too difficult. The opportunity to become a vendor means more to me than I ever thought it would.
