Messages for Gish

After reading Gish's Journal (http://www.homeless.org.au/gish/), you are invited to post a message of support for him or make a comment in this thread.

Simply register as a member (http://forums.homeless.org.au/register.php) of the forums and reply to this message.

I read your story as Dominic linked it.

Keep us updated on things Gish.

You are a remarkable person and this is clear in your story...little things make big differences...and just by writing about your life you are really helping others.

Rainbow

hi gish,

just wanted to wish you all the best with your future endeavors.

I'm normally a pretty emotionaless person but after having read the short biographies of the other guys above your name on this sites home page i was surprised to catch myself with misty eyes.

So good to finally reach your name and to click thru on the link to read your journal, which is the best feel-good story i've read in a long time. So great to hear you are continually searching for a better quality of life, so you should, good on you.

I'm doing a documentary on the issue of being homeless and this site in particular has taught me so much - i was one of the naive one's to think it meant to be in search of a permanent home - how embarrasingly wrong.

Anyway like i said keep up the good work and thanks for your uplifting story.

Cheers,
nick.

good on ya gish!! nice to read your story, thanks Jo

Gish moved out a while ago and has been tripping round the country, I just heard from him and of a massive bream he caught fishing somewhere in Adelaide I think. Anyway, now he is in Perth and going well so great to hear that, hope the fishing is great there too bro.

So that's who's been catching these bream I keep hearing about! :p

You know the story..."aww, yer shoulda been here last week, this bloke caught this enormous bream here last week"

And then you catch nothing at all...:rolleyes:

Congratulations Gish! :cool: :D

what a sad life you have had to live with, what an insperation you are to others out there, you are writing your journal, you should think about writing a book on your life and have you had any opportunities to do seminars for young people, it may be somthing to think about for the future, well done you are learning and definiatly going in the right direction!!!!!!!!

Gish has been in and out a few times over the past however many months, in his travels and is around now, possibly for a bit... but I will bug him for a journal update or two anyway.

DUDE! I just read part 1 - 5 of your life and I'm almost speechless. You should be proud of yourself! I know you say you have done some things in your life that aren't 'good' but everyone has, for you it was robbery and probably a tonne of other crimes, for others it's infidelity, greed or selfishness...who can say what's worse. Under the circumstances of your upbringing and life on the street, it's completley normal for you to have done the things you have. Infact I'd be amazed if you haven't. So I wouldn't go doing your head in too much about what you have done, anyone in your situation would of done crimes. What I'm amazed about is how intellegent you are, and how strong a spirit you obviously have. And Congratulations on giving up the pot. I know first hand what it's like to be addicted to bongs. They are mentally extremely addictive! I haven't smoked for years but I spent every day of my life stoned for 6-7 years. I have been fortunate enough to grow up in a nice home, with a fairly cool family. I look like a clean cut, good 25 year old girl, but don't judge a book by it's cover, I have also done a lot of 'bad' things in my past. At age 18, I took over an erotic massage parlour, by 19 I was pimping 5 star establishment throughout Sydney. I have every drug under the sun *besides heroin* and I have treated people, including myself like shit for a good chunk of my life in my youth and early adult years. I have struggled a lot with bad relationships, violence, suicide, depression, anxiety...I've slept in a queen size bed with in a 3 storey mansion but I have had my fair share of problems and have done a lot of 'bad' things too. Point is your not alone...it's not like just street kids do bad things, half the world does every day, including all those executives you see walking around the city each day! What I have learnt in life, and what has helped me is to try to be mindful. By that I mean stay in the moment, in the present, and anytime your mind, which it will, goes back to the past, or thinks about something negative, or dwells on someone who fucked you over, or whatever the hell it might be, observe the way your mind often brings up the past, negative stuff, sad stuff etc. Observe it, don't judge it, just let it be, but go back to the now. Put your full attention in the now, cos there is no past, there is no future, all you will ever have is the present. By that I mean even in 5 years (which one may call the future) you won't be in the future, you will only be in the now, same with past. So try to enjoy each moment and I don't mean be happy just try to create inner peace. I know it sounds very hippy, perhaps even religious...trust me I'm not religious and if you saw me you'd know I'm no hippie, it's just a copiing mechanism for anxiety (which I suffer from) it's a great anchoring tool. In reality most of the time (living on the street would be different) but NOW in your life where you are NOW there is no problem. So what I advise, hopefully without sounding cocky or arrogant, blunt or rude...is that you focus on staying in the moment...focus on your breath, your inhalation, and exhalation, focus on how you feel inside your body, see the trees, feel the wind, feel the life force in your inner body....BE in your body, not in your mind. The mind will only create problems for you (and I and the whole fuckin' nation for that matter) if we let it control us (which we all besides pretty much the Dalai Lama do). It's hard but the more you do it the more you will realise there's a trend to invite more pain and suffering (from memory, thoughts, fear of the future etc) into our lives. So whenever things get tough, or you feel depressed, or stressed or fearful, know that that's ok, that's normal. Everyone goes through it (you ofcourse probably much more than the average person) but know that if you can tap into the present and stop thinking so to speak about anything from the past, or in the future..then you don't have an issue. I'm trying to master this and I know it's hard...but it's good to try. If you want to read more about it, there's a book called The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (he's AMAZING, also once was homeless actually) Actually it was the suffering he experienced that provoked him on the spiritual journey he took...seriously dude read the book if you can. I'm happy to lend you mine if you want. It's just amazing! Really inspiring and it helps. And look I'm usually a completley synical bitch...I HATE all that Anthony Robbins YES YOU CAN bullshit...this doesn't give you that it doesn't say look to the future, it says the opposite actually, it says stay in the now and be present. It creates positivity and good things will only naturally happen from that action and intention.
Okay I'll stop the lecture...hope it doesn't come across like that at all. :) I just know you must be going through the most amazing, and fuckin' scary journey of your life and your mind must be going crazy with mixed emotions, memories, thoughts, fears...so I thought I'd let you know of some great coping strategies and a fantastic book that may help you through this time...which as you said will take some time...actually this book says you heal the past so to speak by being the person you want to be in the now, and that's easy when you stay in the present, cos in the present your not stressed (unless in a terrible situation) and living on the street a lot of the time could be that. Anyway keep with this motivation to get a 'normal' life for yourself and get yourself a little home and stay out of trouble. Your so young you know..your 27...your life is only just begging...you could have so much...life can be good, it can offer you a lot. I haven't had anywhere near your life, but I've had a fuckin' crazy life myself...and I've had a lot of problems and I still have, and I have no idea what my future will hold...u know what noone does...thats why I try as much as possible to stay in the now...

Anyway sorry my reply is more like an epic novel than a small post. I can never do anything small scale. ..it seems to be all of nothing with me! ;)

Anyway I just wanted to say good on you and that just from reading your emails I can tell that your a strong and kind hearted person. Stay strong, stay in the moment, and keep your chin up, cos you can make this work for you!

Take Care!XO

Ariana thanks for posting, Gish is out today but I'll make sure he reads your reply tonight or tomorrow.

Hi Gish, I have only just finished reading your journal.

While there are some parts of your life that I can't really understand(only imagine), there are many more parts that I do.
You've come a long way and it's not over yet.

So I'm really happy for you and I hope for your best.

Warm Regards,
Konstantìn.

Cool, thanks Dom. Hey does Gish write back, or is it just a forum where he reads postings on?

I showed the slack ass your post today and he wasn't in the mood to reply, he was getting ready to go out with a mate to the pub and watch the green v. mundine fight. He did read it though, so thanks for going to the trouble.

Intersting journey Gish. Sounds like you have got a lot to get on with. (Thanks Ariana for the Eckhart Tolle tip. He makes very interesting reading)

Thank you Gish for sharing your storey :)

you forgot to add the bits about the people you loved and who love you gish. that quite a story isn't it? in sydney, be nice to hook up. love bubblez. (bubby bubby):)

dom has my number get it and give me a buzz. love bubblez

I have read things i can't imagine happening to me Gish. I have been to shelters and i have seen these things, and felt them. I can't say i went through anything like you have. If i did, i would be lying beyond human capabilities. I want to say that the Dictionary will be hearing a new definition of brave. You. Good work with finding your "home" and friends. I hope it works for you

i would just like to leave a message for Gish.. GET IN TOUCH YOU BUGGER!! it's been so long, i have a place of my own now, and i start a new job on monday. i would like to share these things and more with my old friends, but don't know how to get in touch.

gish

i found your story by doing an assignment on homelessness. when i first started the assignment i was dreading it fearing that it'd be deadly dull. i didn't really have any passion for it.
however, then i read your story
it hit home on me-i have lead such a priviledged life compared to some people. your story has made me passionate about homelessness and i am going to do as much as i can from now on to help the people in my area.
thanks and well done
jill xx