A Place Where I Fit

On Fridays we take the afternoon to play games. You will always see a friendly game of UNO, there might be a few sitting at the chess board or even a lively game of Pictionary. Last Friday I sat down and joined the game of UNO that was being played at the front of the room. As I looked around the table I thought to myself, "This table is filled with misfits."

Often when we try to describe the PARC to other people we talk about how those who are homeless are often unseen. People don't look them in the eye, call them by name or many times even reach out and shake their hand in greeting. Sitting around the table that day was a man in a wheelchair who said he only made F's throughout school. If he ever got a D- his family would celebrate and go out tor chicken nuggets. Another was Valedictorian of his class but has a very difficult time socializing. There was a lady who talks to people that aren't there and a veteran who is almost blind and has paranoia. There were also a few volunteers and the PARC's intern.

Around the table that day everyone was the same. There was a lot of laughter, bantering and fun competition. Around that table everyone 'fit in'. They weren't misfits. They were a part of a community and a group of friends. As I looked around I realized that for most of these people they had never quite 'fit in'. At the PARC they are accepted and they fit. There is a place for them and they begin to realize that they truly do have value. That is when wonderful things begin to happen, change takes place and we get to watch them get closer to who they were always meant to be. Possibilities!