"This is my Dojo"

I've spent the last week in a positive, loving environment. No yelling or screaming or judging took place, simply respecting one another and compromising when differences arise. These are fundamental things this family lacks along with consultation. They're things we need to work on.

While staying with Jon, Patrick, and Ben I realized the way things should be. Each one of the guys took time at least once a week to talk about what is going on. Not in a reporting fashion, but checking up, showing concern, and offering themselves if the other person needed someone to speak with. Never did they pry, never did they judge or assume that something was wrong. It had everything to do with concern and interested in learning. When I say interested in learning, what I mean is that they don't know each other all that much. As with everyone there are new things to learn with every conversation, and at no point will we ever full understand each other. So, they attempted to gather up what they could to ensure that their living arrangement continued out of love. As well, based simply on how I would like things to be, it doesn't seem prudent for issues and problems to fester. They should be resolved and discussed, consulted and deepened upon. If we are able to spend our time resolving problems through consultation and discussion, we'll become detached from argumentative tendencies.

All three of the men I stayed with knew my condition. They knew I didn't have a job, knew that I didn't have money, and knew the difficulties that had conspired in causing me to leave but they didn't seem to care all that much. What I mean to say is that they understood, accepted, and remained positive until those deficiencies and problem resolved themselves. At no point did they try to remind me that I didn't have a job, they didn't have to. I knew I didn't have one, and they recognized that the last thing someone needs is to be reminded of a deficiency. As well, at no point did they say that I needed to get some money. Again, they saw the deficiency, accepted it, and, again, recognized that no one in a mental state of money-lessness (I would say poverty, but found it to be too strong a word) wants to be reminded of their money-lessness. They smiled offered their help, never even mentioning that I didn't have any money. Lastly, the problems that had arisen by way of family and injury. They offered their understanding, their support, ice packs, tape, and an ear. Never once reminding me of what had befallen me, and if I brought it up, they would remind me that it's all temporary and showered me with love.

This is what I just came from, and, quite honestly, I didn't entirely want to leave. I was happy there with people who recognized that things were going well and loved me regardless.