During dinner the other night, one of the people in our group looked at me and asked the question I didn’t want to hear —
“How did you become homeless?”
By now most people have heard my story of being on the streets of Dallas in the late 1970s and struggling in poverty in Houston for many years after that. Some of it is explained in my new audioprogram, The Awakening Course.
But I had never explained exactly how I ended up in such dire circumstances.
When I answered the question at dinner, everyone at the table stared at me.
The woman who asked the question sat there with her mouth open and eyes un-blinking.
She asked, “Why have you never said this before?”
My friend Mark Ryan was sitting there, also staring, and said, “As long as I’ve known you, you’ve never told this story before. It’s riveting. This changes everything.”
Changes everything?
Riveting?
They all said I had to tell the story now.
“Given the current financial crisis and with people losing their homes and their jobs, this story needs to be told more than ever before,” Mark said.
I heard them and realized I agreed.
So here’s the story…
I knew I wanted to be an author when I was a teenager. I wanted to write books and plays that made people happy. Everywhere I looked I saw un-happy people. I believed I could help them with humor and stories.
During that time of the mid-1970s, I watched sports. I don’t today but back then the Dallas Cowboys were the rage. Roger Staubach and Tom Landry were heroes. I got caught up in the excitement and felt the place for me to make my name was in Dallas, Texas.
I lived in Ohio at the time. Born and raised there. I worked on the railroad as a trackman, doing heavy labor all day long, working weekends and summers since the age of five.
I saved my money, packed up my bag, and took a bus to Dallas. It took three days to get there.
I was lost in the big city, of course. Being born in a small town in Ohio didn’t prep me for the hustle and bustle of a city the size of Dallas.
Before long, I wanted out.
But I still wanted to be an author.
At that time major companies were building oil and gas pipelines in Alaska and the Middle East, and offering to pay big bucks if you were willing to go to either place.
I wasn’t keen on going to a foreign country and doing more labor, but I saw a chance to make money, save it, and then go on a sabbatical where I could write for a few months or even a year.
It seemed like a brilliant strategy.
I answered one of the newspaper ads that promised to get me pipeline work at a extraordinary hourly wage. I went in their office, met an upbeat sales person, and ended up giving him all of my money — my entire savings, about a thousand dollars at the time — based on his promise that I’d have overseas pipeline work in a week or two.
You might guess part of what happened next – but you won’t guess all of it.
Within a week or so, the company that took all of my money went out of business.
Their doors were closed, no one answered the phone, and no forwarding addresses could be found.
Shortly after that, the company went bankrupt.
And not long after that, the owner of the company committed suicide.
There was no one left to try to get my money back.
I was alone.
I was broke.
I was in Dallas, far from home.
I confess that my ego got in the way here. My family back in Ohio would have taken me back in and welcomed me back home. But I was head strong and determined to somehow survive.
Well, I did survive — by sleeping in church pews, on the steps of a post office, in a bus station.
It wasn’t an easy time, as you can imagine, and I never used to talk about it. It was too embarrassing.
When I told this story at dinner, everyone agreed I had to share it with you.
They said that people are finding themselves in the same situation — they trusted a government, or a corporation, or a person, or a bank, and now they are losing their homes and their jobs.
Hearing that I went through the same thing three decades ago and not only survived but prospered to a level that the Joe Vitale of thirty years ago could hardly imagine, ought to be inspiring to you, too.
I got off the streets and out of poverty by constantly working on myself — reading self-help books, taking action, scrambling at times by taking whatever work I could find, but always always always focusing on my vision: to one day be an author of books that helped people be happy and stay inspired.
If you’re in a place right now that doesn’t feel so good or seem too safe, I urge you to remind yourself that this is only temporary.
This is the cure for despair.
As I say in my book, The Attractor Factor, this is simply current reality, and current reality can change.
You can help it along by doing what you know and need to do.
But remember, the sun will shine again.
It always does.
Your job right now is to focus on what you want and keep it in sight.
Yes, keep taking action;
yes, stay positive and surround yourself with positive people;
yes, be of support to others.
But remember, if I or anyone else can survive homelessness, poverty, job loss, or any other hard time, then you can survive it, too.
Please hang in there.
One last thing:
I admit that there were times I wanted to throw in the towel and get myself out of this life.
Thank God I stuck around. Had I left early, I would have missed a life of magic and wonder, success and fame I never dreamed of before, priceless relationships and experiences, and more.
I have no idea what wonderful good is headed your way — and neither do you.
What you have to do is stay the course and follow your heart.
And remember —
Expect Miracles.
Ao Akua,
Dr. Joe Vitale
Founder of the movement to end homelessness
www.operationyes.com
Note: If you’ve found this story valuable, please share it with family, friends, and coworkers; post it on news groups and blogs, and in any way you feel appropriate, share it with others. Thank you.
43 Comments
Hey Joe. Your story gets better and better. I hope this really encourages people to follow their heart and desires.
Once again Joe you have proven that with a strong belief, consistant focused thought and a desire from the heart anything is possible.
I feel for anyone who is hurting or in a difficult situation. My heart goes out to you. There is a way out and Joe’s story can give you hope. It can be done!
Thank you for sharing with us something so private. This has just given me more inspiration in following my dream.
Learning…Enjoying…Sharing
David
Joe, it’s really touching and inspiring, the best sunday message I’ve read since yrs – thanks for sharing it with the internet universe.
GreatDad (twitter)
First I surprised that there’s no comments yet for the stunning article. But when I started to write here I understand why there is not because I feel so touched and moved and don’t know what to say.
That is the most inspiring article I’ve ever read! And that’s the only thing I can say…
Thank you for sharing this, there’s something very empowering about your honesty and feelings of embarrasment you felt at this time in your life.
Your story and your subsequent success is exteremely inspirational to us travelling similar paths and a great reminder to hang in there as everything is temporary.
In peace, love and success x x x
Lola
Joe, thank you for finally sharing this story. This most certainly was a perfect time to share it. Ending up homeless and/or completely destitute because you trusted someone else is a horrifying feeling. I found myself in that position 13 years ago when my husband, who was 11 years my senior passed away suddenly. He died in my arms, and you would think that would be the worst of it, but it wasn’t. What was worse was the betrayal I felt when I found out that our nice lifestyle was built entirely on credit, which I had no means to repay. The small life insurance policy he had barely covered his burial expenses. I went from feeling happy and safe to losing my husband, my home and my car. Luckily I wasn’t too proud to accept a berth on my mom’s couch, while I struggled to pay back the debt. Eventually the debt overtook me and I had to declare bankruptcy.
Yes, there was great despair. Many days I wanted to give up, but I hung on. I read books, listened to tapes and went to seminars, when I could scrape up the cash. I had many wonderful angels around me who loaned me books and tapes for which I am eternally grateful. Today I have an amazing life filled with joy, love and abundance. I share my message of hope and happiness through my blog and through speaking, hoping to help pull others out of their darkness.
Despair is just a season in our lives. I truly believe with all my heart that the horrible times in my life have made me stronger and more compassionate. They are part of the fiber of who I am today and I wouldn’t go back and change a thing.
Thank you again for finally sharing your story, Joe. It was time.
Thank you Joe for sharing this. I am one of those people about to “lose” my house, but my focus is on “loosing” it instead. It no longer serves a purpose for me. The time has come for me to move past it and move onto something better. Yes I created this situation and Yes I am ready to create a new one.
It’s funny that you mention that during your homeless time you considered ending it all. I call it cashing in my chips and going home. Honestly I have thought about it myself a few times, but my 14 yr old is why I stay. That and praying to God. I have begged my Angels to take me “home” a few times, but they assure me my work is not done yet.
I wanted to share a few books that have helped to shore up my faith. I am not a religious person. I attend no church, however I am very spiritual. I suggest to everyone facing any situation that causes fear or anxiety to learn about EFT and get a few Catherine Ponder books. She wrote The Millionaires of the Bible series…which is funny because I have never read the bible!! Catherine will help you see that God/Universal Energy has not left you and that it is usually darkest right behind the light. This storm will pass. This is merely a cleansing period, part of a cycle. The world is not ending.
Joes book The Attractor Factor will help you focus and release. Catherines books will help shore up your faith.
BTW, by “loosing” my house (meaning becoming detached to the outcome- mind you I have $100,000 in this house!) my focus is on attracting a buyer instead of giving it back to the bank. Guess what? My realtor keeps remarking house my house is getting showings when none of the others are! I am confident that a buyer will come next week.
The Best Is Yet To Come~
Sarah Saint Amour
Thanks for sharing Joe.
I am working on my expereince. I didn’t understand the nature of receiving even though I spoke of it often (the natural is giving nad receiveing to your self and everyone of your expereince). Giving was always easy. What really works with me is that I am willing to work hard at anything, work smart, with Love.
You and Dr Len have been the greatest influence thus far. Thanks for being here.
😀 Jeannie
Thank You
Thank You
This was very enlightening. Often when we hear of the stories of misfortune it generally brings up the question of, how can someone who is so incredibly successful have gone though such misfortunate situations? Thank you for sharing you story with us. You continue to inspire and motivate me in my quest for the levels of success I desire. I wish you the best, have a SPECTACULAR DAY!!
Great post. Thank you for sharing this story.
Joe,
As always, you are wonderfully inspiring. –As a buddhist, I study and work accept the idea of “impermanence,” which I think fits in with your cure for despair: all things constantly change and move in (and out) of existence, good things and bad. I understand that to mean if we can see and accept this, we can understand that all of our experience is part of the same thing, thus, nothing to be feared or worried about.
Of course, truly accepting that is not always easy (or even comfortable), but it does help create peace in one’s mind, which is always a positive thing.
Dear Joe
Thank you so much for sharing your story, I for one needed that today.
I have a great life and a ;ot to be thankful and grateful for, however today I just couldn’t see it that way.
See I to want so much to be a writer and today I was filled with doubt and feeling down.
I want so much to be able to stay home and write, and I just had a weeks hoilday from work (the most part of which I was at home) and I have to start work again tomorrow.
Well I was as I said feeling down because this week off gave me a taste of what I want and I didn’t want to go back to work.
So your words really helped pull me out that hole I was allowing myself to fall in.
You are truly wonderful I love you.
Love
Chris
XXXX
P.S Joe I too read loads of books I own nearly all of yours.
And by the way I am English but I live in Holland and I was so pleased to see your book The Key here in the Dutch bookstores in Dutch, it’s the first book of yours I’ve seen in Dutch.
I read mostly English books but now I can recommend Your book The Key to Dutch friends and even give it to them as a present.
Hello Joe,
This part of your story certainly is very moving and a sound proof for us all readers and followers of your books, mails and kind help and support… working on intention to get where you are.
What a marvellous example of perseverance, faith and courage.
Most of us probably didn’t get that far in the misery but have also gone through some struggles.
Keeping your extreme story in mind, it should boost our belief because if you could come all the way from there, we can too.
As someone said: “every struggle that doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”.
Wishing you all the joy you so much deserve,
With gratitude and admiration,
Monique
Hello Joe,
Just two nights ago, I watched you tell this story on a YouTube Video from an interview in Maui.
On YouTube search: Life on Maui #23 with Steven Freid (5 Parts).
Great Interview.
To hear you claim it and share it again (for me in such a short time) is amazing.
Blessings,
Barry
Hey Joe – haven’t chatted in a while.
Dude, did you hear about the run I am doing across the country to raise 100 million for Teenage Homelessness?
give me a shout or an email (my contact info is the same as it was, and Matt Gill has it too if you don’t) – I’d love to talk about some colaboration…
-Tellman
Your friends were right Joe..you needed to share this story. I am sure it will benefit many. Thank you 🙂
Thank you Joe!
I sit here with tears in my eyes and so grateful for you! I have depression and somedays it feels like life is to much to take. Thank you for giving me hope! Thank you for sharing your story and message. This quote is for you “To the world you may be one person, but to one person the world”! Be blessed, Dana P.S. How about a Expect Miracles wristband, bumper stickers etc… to give people the constant reminder? God Bless!
Thank you for sharing so openly Joe.
I know this post will be exactly what someone needs right now to hang on when it may look as though they are defeated. There is always an answer if we are willing to work on changing our beliefs and actions. Your books are filled with practical ways to do this.
Although being homeless must have been incredibly challenging, the experience is your inspiration now to help others. When we choose to use what we’ve learned from our difficult times we have great gifts to offer the world.
Thanks for being such an inspiration.
Warmest regards,
Rosemary Heenan
Joe: I read this story twice, shared it with my sister, you are indeed an inspiration. I am grateful that you are in my awareness.
Namaste,
Marie
http://www.thelemonadediet.com
Hi Joe,
Thank you for sharing your story! Quite inspiring and touching…
Wendy
Joe. Thank you for sharing this! What an inspiring story. I’m sure you didn’t know that then and were quite mired in the struggle and survival of it.
It is VERY CLEAR to me why you never shared this before, even though some might think it was your embarrassment. You shared it now because it is PERFECT to be shared now. Right now. It was Divinely orchestrated. The woman who asked, divinely guided.
This story right now probably is helping countless people, many more than would have years, or even a year, months or even a month or days ago.
Thank you for listening so well.
Love, Joy, Peace and Prosperity!
Amy
Hi Joe,
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s a great reminder of the
importance of looking forwards and keeping your vision in
your sights.
It’s also a reminder that everything is in a state of flux.
When you find yourself in a difficult situation have the courage
to hold on. Keep working on your mindset because change
is created from the inside out. Keep striving to achieve your
goals and you’ll make it.
“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against
you, never give up then, for that is just the time that the tide
will turn.”
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Best wishes
Nickolove
Hi Joe,
Thanks for sharing that story. Although I knew part of the story, I didn’t know all the details.
It’s timely that you should mention the cure for despair, and that “this too will pass”… this is something you said to me on the phone one day several months after I came back from my dad’s funeral. You remember the conversation?
Coincidental… he was always saying the same thing.
I went by the cemetary to visit him after church yesterday, with my mom. I sure miss him. I know, she does, too. But I’ve got my smile back. People are wonderful, and those that aren’t… well, I give them a smile. Maybe that’s all they needed.
And, thanks again for the books.
Stay in touch.
Ernest
Hey Joe,
I wondered myself many times; how and what could it have happened… to get into such a story…
Anyone could get into the same situation you were.. Anyone, it’s an ego story..
I wouldn’t have gone back either, I’ve been nearly in a similar situation… You don’t want to show you failed, that your dream went into smoke…..To admit that they were more right then you were at the time… You needed to go through it, you needed to know how low you could go.. At least, I did, I had to learn I could go anywhere.. I needed that relation with the father of my child to learn I could survive any situation by myself.. Just by finding my strength and by completely following my heart with the trust that the steps I took were the right ones… I left with nothing except 5 bags of clothes, my child and my dog..And I am still very thankful for that lesson, each and every day!
It learned me that I am much stronger then I ever can imagine, that I can do and survive any given situation by just following my intuition and inner guidance, by knowing what is best for me… You found your strength in those days! The strenght that lightens your entire being!! I’m sure you’re grateful for what happened back then! Thank You For Sharing and Remembering!!
Wishing You Another Wonderful Day! A Day Full of Wonders!!!
Love, Light & a Lot of Laughter
Hilde
PS. Joe, Have you heard of Dr. Zhi Gang Sha? He wrote the book Soul Wisdom & Body Mind Soul Medicine.. And appeared in a movie called SoulMasters.. This man is able to heal on a soul level but also to replace the souls of body parts that are not able to heal anymore.. It’s really interesting to see what he’s capable of (I do think we could all be capable of it by the way).. You’d love him.. Get your nose around him, I guess if you would introduce him to dr Len, I’m sure something really wonderful would happen there…
xH
Dear Joe,
The world is grateful for people like you.
As I see it, there are only two possible ways when you find yourself in such circumstances. Either you give up or you go through. You certainly went through and therefore you are missioned to help other people to do the same.
Thank You!
Love, Light and Peace to you and to all who struggle today!
Joe
Thank you so much for inspiring us with this story. You truly are a blessing. Thank you for fighting against the odds and producing the wonderful books that we all enjoy.
Not many people would come back against odds like that, thank you for having the courage to share your story and fight back.
Hi Joe
Now that I have learnt ho’oponopono, everything happens inside ourselves. I guess we are our own worst enemy. Thank you so much for sharing how done on your luck you were. I have been lucky in life and haven’t had to live on the streets, but my father has been there.
I am just glad that you got out of it okay, stuck to your guns and became a great author after all. Someday I would like to be an author too, thanks for motivating me to not give up on my dream.
Hi Joe!!!!
I just wanted to say Thank You for sharing your story with the rest of the world today. One way or another – we all face despair and some don’t see a way out. Your example shows that – yes you can!
God bless you and the work you do!
Joe, Thanks for sharing this with everyone. Seeing as how you are an inspiration for so many people who are currently struggling, this is really gives people great enthusiasm and hope for the future. I had always heard that you had been homeless at one time, and like so many others I suppose, I had always wondered what the story was behind that. So, thanks for sharing that with us!
Sincerely,
Melanie Joy Vertalino
Thanks for the great story Doc. I just received the Awakening Course and I think it’s great. Thanks for doing what you do 🙂
Hi, Do something to help those hungry people in Africa or India,
I made this blog about this subject:
at http://tinyurl.com/556poc
Note: See http://www.operationyes.com
Thank you for telling your story Joe. It is very inspiring and gives hope. By the way, I hope you read these because I wanted to tell you about a charity that gives hope, http://www.outpostforhope.org, to people who have unreported missing relatives or friends. Your story reminded me of this charity and I know that they are in big need of financial support to carry on with the great work they do.
Sir,
Very true and inspiring life story of many who suffer untold misery and never realize the truth that around them are many crookes who play with honest people.
I wish the world will change for them.Evil will never perish nor the good will ever rule. The world goes on and on.
Paul Ponniah
Sir,
Thank you for this story. I have bought first the book The Secret, later saw the movie . I asked to get more information and i get it! I went to a bookshop for a gift for a friend and find your book The Key, The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want. I read and overread it again and work with it. Working with the book gives me more and more questions. I always start the day by thanking for a lot of things. Almost every day i meet people who helps me with some of my questions, it really works, if you believe, you get it. So i want to thank you from te bottom of my heart. Very warm greatings and hugs from Antwerp/Belgium.
Joe,
I am not from the u.s. I have to tell you my story…
Last November (2008) i quit a nasty job, had enough of my younger boyfriends’ games, and was ready to find a way to end my life and find someone to take care of my extremely wonderful son. My doctor got involved and assigned me to a psychiatrist who subscribed some pills to keep me sane.
Other than all of you I did go home to live with my family and spend this one last x-mas with them. I never had a good relationship with them.
One day I went with my dad to this bookstore and out of all these million books I picked “the Key” in dutch! From the moment I started reading it I felt an amazing comfort. I shared all I was reading with my son. ( i have always involved him and he even knew I was suicidal if I didn’t drink myself to sleep)
I have to tell you I feel great!! I now know what brought all this DISPAIR to my life : ME
I am now following all your teachings and ,as you call it “God’s speed” everything is turning around. Unfortunately I want to try to do this on my own so I haven’t applied for a miracles coach because I feel I can do this . It took me about 3 weeks to understand but last night I saw a clear picture of my happiness and I could really relax knowing that everything was going to be more than perfect.
This morning I got the perfect job proposition for now and I got a call from my real estate agent that he has a meeting with a prospect buyer on Friday. I will wake up everyday very exited to see what new wonders are coming my way.
I will be leaving to live in Holland soon with the love of my life and complete happiness .If you feel like preparing me to become a “miracle coach ” for Europe please contact me because I really feel this is my calling.
You have no idea what your book has done for me, and everybody around me !!!
No more pills and I really love myself.I finally can ask for everything because I know I am going to get it.
thank you for clearing my mind and for showing me that I had to work on myself to get where I am today.!
You are an inspiration to many. Thank you for sharing your story. You are living proof that anything is possible in life if you believe it is.
Thanks for sharing this Joe. I know it’s an old post but some things just don’t go out of date. I found myself in despair fairly recently and this has helped tremendously.