People are hurting

I haven't posted for a while and for that I apologize. Behind the Signs has gone ballistic  but there are still so many good people who are struggling to survive. This is wrong and we MUST do something to change this and the pain and suffering go away. My relationship with Tawnya is growing by leaps and bounds. She is right on top of the homeless population too. She's been there, not as far as me, but she is going to dedicate time from her busy schedule again this coming winter with me at the Egan Warming Centers.  I am now in management with them and it will prove to be one hell of a challenge. I can take it if you can. Thanks for all the hits on this blog. Check my site, I promise...I'll be back.

Kirk Toncray

http://kirktoncray.com

It happens

Sometimes things in life get a little weird. This I do realize but to have a family member slam Behind the Signs was something that I am having a hard time dealing with.

Give her a hand

There are so many things that happen behind the curtains that we don’t realize. My dear friend, Tawnya Miller, has worked her ass off at the Egan Warming Centers, while attending college, while maintaining a home and a 15 year old child. She is doing her best to gain traction in this this world. Let’s give her a hand…Shall we?

                                         

Open our ears

It saddens me when people get so hung up in their own ways that listening doesn’t even exist. What happened to opened ears? If we all would just put our own selfishness aside, maybe we could change things. It won’t happen though until we shut our own mouths and open our ears and our minds.

Until next time,
Kirk Toncray
WEBSITE

Listen or Hear

This isn’t anything new; I just think it’s appropriate. Sometimes we get so caught up in our lives that we forget who we are talking to or the depth the short conversation may lead. Here’s an example. Bear with me; I’m a former Diesel Mechanic.

I was watching a lowboy hauling a log loader turn the corner with a flagger in front and a flagger behind. The ‘Oversize Load’ signs were up and as the driver rounded the corner, he was talking on his CB and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t ordering pizza. He was gaining information about his load. It may have shifted, come loose, etc. It could have been a real mess.

The flaggers weren’t just listening to the words that were flowing on that frequency; they were hearing what was said.

So many times in life we pick and choose what we absorb without allowing the true message to penetrate. I’m guilty, and so are you. When we walk by someone, do we say, “How’s it going?” just because it seems to be the friendly thing to do or stop and actually wait for a reply? Do we listen to the response or hear it?

Giving speeches is a blessing that is no doubt one of the best ways for me to gain awareness of homeless persons. I have gotten response from my last speech and it seems the audience has heard the words, not just listened.

Until later,
Kirk Toncray
WEBSITE

Substance Abuse

I wasn’t going to do this but I figured it’s worthwhile. After speaking with a person whom I have known for quite some time, and swears up and down against judgment, that person’s true colors showed during a recent conversation.

I don’t recall how it got this far but this particular person still has it in focus that all homeless persons either drink or use drugs, or both. This is simply not true and trying to explain this to someone who just-will-not-listen is next to impossible.

Even though it is true that a large percentage of less fortunate individuals do use one or the other, or both, the reasons for this should be clear to anyone who has read the last chapter of Behind the Signs.

Without going further, I’ll just post part of the last chapter so you can decide for yourself.

I know that overlapped a bit but give me a break. It's 2:00 in the morning. The first full paragraph contains the information that this post is all about.

 

Until Next Time,
Kirk Toncray
WEBSITE



Lying People

A situation tonight spawned this post:

A common myth is that homeless persons are a bunch of lying individuals who have no morals whatsoever. I hope this helps break that myth.

In actuality, homeless persons may pass an occasional bullshit story; even stretch the truth at times to an incredible level that only a man on the moon would understand. Basically, this is out of boredom and the need for making a good afternoon out of the same old day to day stuff that is required to survive.

Let’s take a look at the “common” person for a switch. How many ‘white lies’ does it take for it to become unjustified?

Here’s a few: Not answering the phone, (screening calls via answering machine or caller ID); Making cheap excuses for not attending that party or luncheon; how about avoiding a situation altogether just because you didn’t really want to see a particular person? What about the times you didn’t answer the door because your favorite show was playing or you were just too damn lazy?

Of the many homeless persons I have met, the word ‘welcome’ means welcome.

Makes a person think now doesn’t it?

Until Next Time,
Kirk Toncray
WEBSITE