To whom are YOU talking?

I have to admit I've always been one to talk to myself. I have an active mind, and much of the process that goes on between my ears is assisted if certain things are said out loud.

Now that's all fine and good if I happen to be by myself. But walking down the street, my mind wandering in one direction while my feet are headed in another, it can (I'm sure) be a little disconcerting for some to witness my ruminations. At least that's how it used to be....

These days, I'm far less concerned about it, because (as I've keenly observed) encountering people who seem to be talking to themselves is a common occurrence. Yes, they may have little bluetooth devices neatly tucked into their ears, but nevertheless, they're talking and there's no one in particular whom I can see who's listening.

This morning I walked by the Village (Long Beach, CA, 5th & Elm) on my way to my internship at Mental Health America of Los Angeles. Outside there were several folks waiting to get into this program that offers support services to persons with mental illness, and more than a few of them were having some very animated conversations with people I couldn't see. A little further down the sidewalk I passed someone who was similarly conversing, and I thought, "Yeah, right."

Yeah, I know...there's a difference. The folks with those little bluetooth devices in their ears are talking to REAL people...or so they say. But once again I was reminded that the line between "normal" and "whatever word you choose for abnormal" is one that is mostly artificial. In the end, we're all just talking. The question is, "To whom are we willing to take the time and listen?"

But first...

The language among caring service providers often includes phrases like: “Oh, they’ll never be productive, but AT LEAST…..”

I think this is plain wrong-headed. I believe that we will not make real progress until we can figure out a way to recognize that EVERY person is gifted and productive, that our definitions of “usefulness” or “productivity” are connected to Northern European/US industrial imperialism and the Protestant work-ethic that says that if you don’t produce something in a narrowly predefined category that you are not useful. But who defines “productive?” Are philosophers UN-productive because they don’t have a pile of widgets to show at the end of the day? Are poets and dreamers unproductive? What about homeless advocates? People with a mental illness? People who have lost their home?

If empowerment is really the name of the game, then we must realize our role in the unlocking of human potential, in both the giving and the receiving, rather than merely defining people and working to fit them into tiny little socially constructed boxes.

But first we need to find them a place to live.