Incurable Optimist: Rissa Haynes

Rissa Haynes, a vendor for the homeless Newspaper “Groundcover”, outside Café Verde.

Originally published in 2011:

“I’m an incurable optimist, okay?” Rissa Haynes, a vendor for Groundcover, said about herself with a laugh. “I’m the kind of person who goes after Moby Dick with my tartar sauce.” And despite all the things that have happened since she came to Ann Arbor in 2009, Haynes maintains a cheerful, positive outlook on life.

Haynes originally came to Ann Arbor from Texas, planning to help out her mother. However, on her way to Michigan, she contracted a health problem with her leg. After finding out, Haynes’s mother no longer wanted her help, saying, “I didn’t know you were that bad. You can’t help me.” Haynes explains that she forgives her mother, since “She’s kind of old, so, you know, I forgive it.”

 

In the meantime, Haynes was struck by another health health issue, this time with her hands. “I couldn’t go back to my mom. My brother’s wife didn’t want me around her kids.” She explains. “People don’t understand disabilities. They don’t realize that it’s only my legs, my head is still fine, and my heart is pretty good!” She said the last part with a small laugh, although in reality, the memory must be painful. With no one else to turn to, Haynes ended up at the Delonis Center, which she calls an “interesting experience.” While at the Delonis Center, she finally received funding from the state, which allowed her proper medical care. Due to the complications with her leg, doctors thought it would be best to remove one of her toes. She refused. “They used to prescribe medicine; I don’t like medicine. I prefer to do it naturally, if at all possible.” She said, describing her progress from a wheelchair to a walker, and to where she now stands with merely a cane.

At the Delonis Center, Haynes also first heard about Groundcover, a homeless newspaper. “I was at the Delonis center one day, and they were doing a presentation, and I thought it was an excellent idea for earning extra income.” Groundcover’s main goal is to present people who either do not have a job or people who do have a job, but don’t make anywhere near enough to buy the basic necessities, or the opportunity to earn a living. A new paper comes out every month, and is sold for one dollar. Although mainly sold on the streets of Ann Arbor, Groundcover is planning to reach out to several smaller cities in the surrounding area.

Most of the articles are written by vendors, or other people in situations similar to those of the vendors. However, anyone can contribute an article to Groundcover, such as Danielle Mack, a student at Washtenaw Community College, who writes articles on transgender issues. “It gives the opportunity for people who are between jobs, or have no jobs, homeless or whatever, to earn income,” Haynes said.

Although Haynes would have “never chosen this route,” she believes that God is in control, He knows what He’s doing, and that whatever you were planning just might not happen. “I believe everything works out.” Haynes explained. She, more than most people, would have a reason to believe this statement and know that it is true.

Her words of wisdom to pass along are this: “Just bloom where you’re planned. Be grateful for what you do have, ‘cause if you focus on what you don’t have, you become bitter. You control your brain. Take the perspective, and there’s always a silver lining in every cloud. If you focus on the cloud, you’ll get rain. If you focus on the silver lining, you’ll be able to get the positive aspects.”