Winter Warmth on the Streets

In the past month I have come to truly appreciate the value of money after quitting my job as a waitress and having to battle out the months expenses without a constant income. There's only one word for it - humbling. I have been avoiding clothing shops like the plague because I know I don't have the money to splurge on unnecessary luxuries like warm winter jerseys.

However, amidst the " financial crisis" of my life, my eyes were really opened to the fact that, although I may not be the richest kid on the block, I am extremely blessed to have warm clothes, warm food and a heater in my house this winter. I say this because I recently heard an excerpt on the radio about giving old jerseys and warm clothes to people we see on the street who have nothing to keep warm. This really got me thinking about how many people I drive past every day, sometimes at 10pm at night, who are wearing mere scraps as clothing, are usually barefoot, and are sometimes even walking in icy winds and rain just so they can get some money from passing drivers. It breaks my heart to even think that I could drive past those people with the heater in my car on full blast and a hoodie to keep my body warm, and yet still complain that I don't have enough money to buy myself more jerseys.

After I heard that piece on the radio, I went home straight away, put about seven of my old and new jerseys and hoodies onto the passenger seat of my car, and handed them out to anyone I saw that looked cold or in need of something other than a piece of sackcloth to wear. I wish I could warm up every person on the street.

People often say to me " what's the point of giving them clothes or food when they don't even appreciate it. All they really want is money for glue and alcohol ".

Well this is what I say in response to that.
Did anyone ever stop a street kid and ask him why he sniffs glue? I bet you his answer won't be that it tastes better than a home cooked meal. No, his answer will probably go something like this :
" Glue makes me warm inside so that I cannot feel the cold. It also takes away the feelings of hunger, and makes me forget about the pain and the sadness of my life on the street because it puts me on a euphoric high ".

What I believe is that if those street kids were being provided with love, food, clothing and warmth, the need for glue would disappear and it would be easier to stop the addiction.  An amazing quote I once heard ( can't remember who it was by) was : When people are on the street holding up signs asking for change, maybe they are not referring to money".

What have we got to lose by gathering some jerseys, blankets, warm pyjamas, or cans of food that we have lying around most probably in excess, and distributing them to the people we drive past on a daily basis. You'll be amazed at how such a small, random act of kindness can affect a person's life in the long run. If you have spare time on your hands, go a step further - get a group of friends together, cook a big pot of stew, take it to a place where you know there are people in need, and sit down and have a meal with them. We are all humans trying to find our way in an infinite universe and at the end of the day, regardless of what Maslows Hierarchy of Needs says, our greatest need is to be loved. So go and love all those people who so desperately need it.

I don't have a job, I live in a small house, I don't have my own car and I can't afford expensive clothes...but to that lady on the street with a baby, I am a millionaire - and "millionaires" need to be parting with their riches so that the poor can survive.

I know I wrote a post recently on a similar topic, but that's because it's something I am immensely passionate about, so I will keep talking and writing about it until I can no longer and I hope that you don't just read this and "like" it, but rather read it and then go straight to your cupboards and grab those jerseys and blankets.

My winter favourites

HOT WATER BOTTLES

Ah the perfect remedy for those wintry nights when your body just refuses to get warm. Fun facts - 1.Hot water bottles are also really good for stomach pains and back pains ( just place them on the sore area for a few minutes and presto!) 2. If you have been attacked with flu and your nose is blocked, just mix some Eucalyptus oil with the hot water inside your bottle, stick your face over the opening and gently squeeze the bottle while inhaling the fumes. It's a homemade hot toddy!

TRENCHCOATS

So the reason this is my favourite winter fashion item, is because it's a must for both guys and girls, and it looks equally good on both ( if you purchase the right type). In my opinion, dark grey, navy blue , and black trench coats are the way forward but it's always a good idea to have one that's bright and vibrant in your closet for those times you're feeling fashionably adventurous.

HOT CHOCOLATE ( CAN BE SUBSTITUTED WITH MILO AND HORLICKS)

So this is the one time of the year when we ( girls especially) have an excuse to have these delicious drinks without feeling bad that we're just consuming liquid chocolate. What I love the most is that you can have them in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening...they're just timeless drinks. They're also the perfect excuse to invite people over for " DVDs and hot chocolate". So at the end of the day you land up with a warm belly and friends. You can't get a better coupling than that!

THE CIVIL WARS

That's the name of a band by the way, I'm not implying that I enjoy civil wars between countries. Just to clear that up. Now, in my opinion, Winter is the perfect season for that calm, beautiful, haunting music to be playing in the background of your life ( wow that was pretty deep). At the moment The Civil Wars are my number one choice for that position and if you don't know who they are than you better be researching them on YouTube right now! Other current artists that make me feel all warm on the inside are Brooke Fraser, Will Fitzsimmons, Sufjan Stevens, and Priscilla Ahnn to name a few. Music is definitely a blanket for the soul though, and gosh I am really whipping out some good lines here..maybe they'll become famous quotes one day. #wishfulthinking



lyrics from a song by The Civil Wars



KNITTING

It's not an activity just for grannies you know. It's an awesome and creative way to spend your time on those days when it's too cold to go outside and you just feel like having some alone time. The bonus is that, old school knitted jersey's are all the winter rage at the moment, so not only will you be filling up your time, but you'll be making your own fashionable clothes. That gives serious street cred.

WINTER WONDERLAND

I'm talking about that crisp fresh air you breathe in every morning, and how the air forms little puffs of cloud every time you breathe out; the early morning frost that collects on the grass; the snow that covers the mountains ( if you're fortunate enough to live near mountains); waking up to the sound of rain outside your window, especially if its a weekend and you can sleep in; curling up on a couch with a duvet and a book while it thunders outside; those perfect unpolluted days where you can spend hours in the sun without getting burnt. That's my winter wonderland.

{Images from We heart it}