The Street Entrepreneur

byJoyNelson

6.1K followers

7 years ago

• Hey folks,

It is my husband Mountain's birthday Monday, so I am dedicating my weekend to celebrating the divine, compassionate, and incredibly passionate man he is! Last night we went to the city to try out a new sushi place. The food was incredible, the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was mind blowingly romantic. Needless to say, it was not just a meal, it was an experience.

When we walked outside the sun was thinking about laying her head down to sleep and the wind was playing in the trees and dancing with the flowers. I was once again blown away by the beauty of life. I am so blessed:

• I have been married for over two decades to my best friend and soul mate
• my children are all incredible human beings
• I have pets that adore me
• I live in a country where freedom is my
• I have a magical micro farm within city limits
• I wake each day and do what I love
• My incoe comes from what I am passionate about
• I am healthy, happy and in love and I am deeply grateful

Mountain and I decided to go for a walk. My new passion for Instagram had me on the hunt for a stellar photo. I had planned on taking pictures of our beautiful sushi dinner but got so caught up in the moment that I forgot. I took a few pictures of this and that, but still didn't feel like I had the image I wanted.

As we turned around, planning on heading back to our van, I saw my image riding down the street. I rushed across the road and flagged down a man riding along with his business in tow. Meet Jude, the "street entrepreneur":

If you have not spent much time with the homeless, you may be thinking to yourself, isn't he just a bum? Unfortunately, this is such a common attitude and it is entirely inaccurate. People are homeless for so many different reasons; mental illness, addictions, a broken soul who can't handle society...you get the picture.

Beyond the everyday struggles of humanity that cause some people to give up and sink into a state of being that exists outside society...some people choose to be homeless. My husband Mountain spent years travelling around the US and Canada protesting, meeting people, having adventures, and living simply with just his dog, his tent and his books.

Last year one of our sons decided to follow in his dad's footsteps. He went back to British Columbia where we used to live and spent a year going back and forth between a tipi on my sister's hobby farm and a campsite he set up that was tucked away on public land. Knowing my husband's stories helped me accept what my son chose to do but for the first few months I cried almost daily, yet my son was the happiest he'd been (he did just come home to start college which is one of the biggest blessings I have received in a long time).

With these stories close to my heart, my passion for understanding the lives and stories of the homeless has increased tenfold. Jude, the man in the picture above is one of those stories. He is choosing to be homeless. He is choosing to "work for himself". Rather than panhandle in the streets, he wakes up early and goes to bed late, spending his day collecting pop cans which he redeems.

He makes enough money to keep himself safe. He rides around the city meeting people. he stays healthy and fit because he rides his bike off and on all day long. he fired his boss! Don't get me wrong, I am not wearing rose coloured glasses. I know that the life Jude has chosen for himself is sometimes risky and that he faces unique challenges each and everyday but don't we all?

I was moved by the visual story told in the pictures I took. The messages are clear to me. The signs on his one-man-business-bike tell their own story. 515 is the area code for the city he lives in, showing the pride he has for our city. Another sign reads "OUTLAW" speaking to his free spirited nature. There is also a sign that says, "God Bless", speaking to his spiritual beliefs. The fact that Jude chose to pose with the peace sign in both photos I took of him also speaks volumes.

My message to you today is:

1. Never judge a book by its cover until you have read the story held within
2. If Jude can create an income that sustains himself, you can too!
3. Be grateful for what you have, because you don't have to look very far to see someone who has less.
4. Live the life of your dreams, and until you can, love the life you live!

From my heart to yours,

Joy