The Unheard

For those who have followed this blog, you already know how I feel about the unhealthy and disadvantageous behavior exhibited when people when referencing other people, seem to prefer the adjective over the noun. Like when we talk about the homeless.

Homeless - clearly an adjective only describing a condition, the term lacks the depth needed to describe a person - which is the actual noun of our descriptional intent.

Many of us who work and serve within the human condition, who are experiencing homelessness, often refer to these our fellow citizens, as the unhomed. It's a feeble attempt, albeit a sincere attempt, to move the conversational descriptions and the need to describe people, closer to the person rather than the condition of the person.

In any case here's today's question: What would be worse, to be unhomed or to be unheard?

I can think of a multitude of people who are clearly homed, living each day in the comfort of the homed and yet are in relationships in which they are not heard.

They're frustrated.

It's not that they're not talking, not allowing their frustrations to engineer new ways to communicate - you may be one of them, you know what I'm talking about. You try to date the problem, sex the problem, talk the problem, yell at the problem, ignore the problem - all in an effort to be heard.

Yet for all of your good intentions and splendid efforts, you remain unheard.

Now imagine you are unhomed and unheard - what then?

What is your frustration level like?
Do you have a low-grade irritation all the time?
What is your attitude like?
What is your appearance like?
Are you approachable?
Are you skeptical?
Will you take advantage of others?

Voice!

Do you want to be effective in today's ever dynamic and fluid environment of service?

Then listen! It's a great place to start.

Dan
A Runner