Stealing for Survival: A Life Beyond Despair

My journey as a homeless individual lasted five years. I could have embraced a life of theft, but that was never my choice. Thievery is beneath me, and I would never let myself or others who find themselves in a similar situation stoop to such lengths. The world has no end of options, and no justification for resorting to thievery.

My younger years were fraught with challenges. Family was broken, and my relationship with them was severed due to their involvement in illegal activities. I saw no benefit in dragging more individuals into this cycle of corruption. I never believed in using women for personal gain, and my relationships were thus carefully chosen. My closest friends had apartments and I moved in with one of them. I had older friends who owned houses and were restoring classic cars. In exchange, I would look for parts that they needed.

At night, I would search for lawnmowers, surveillance cameras, and other items that needed to be replaced. To access the cameras, I would stand on my bike, cover my face, and rip them off. I would search through real estate listings in magazines looking for houses with sego palms, which I would then help my team members take for half price. When growing up with my mother's boyfriend, there were many instances where we would "chew and screw," which meant filling up on free food before making a quick escape.

Though I could have turned to thievery for survival, I emphatically refuse. I have a responsibility to my family, including a child and a lover. I would do anything to get back to them. I believe that there is always a better way to survive, one that does not involve theft or the degradation of the human spirit.

Without the means of survival, I could have succumbed to stealing, but it would have meant losing everything I hold dear. A hard worker's life may be difficult, but she can rest with a clear conscience. In contrast, a thief's life may bring immediate relief, but it comes at the cost of trust, reputation, and personal integrity.

Instead of a life of thievery, there are alternative methods of survival. With strength and resilience, we can build shelter from clay or dry leaves. We can grow our own food, work for someone else, or even sell what we make in small stalls. These alternatives may require hard work and perseverance, but they offer a path to a fulfilling and honest life.