Full Interview:

Hi, my name is Michael Taylor. I was born in New Orleans and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I went to middle school in Burney Springs, Michigan, that's where Muhammad Ali's estate is, and I even met him there. I ended up in Huntsville, Alabama, because my brother and sister went to Oklahoma University. I traveled around, got married, and eventually landed in Sacramento, California. My ex-wife got pregnant, and we ended up back in Alabama. We have two sons, I named our first son, and she named our second son. We separated because I believe we got married way too early without enough information. 

I was raised as a 7th Day Adventist. My biggest passion is nature. I love nature. My favorite color is green. Every day I wake up and I love to see it. That’s me. That’s the reason why I love art. The reason why is because it’s free. You tell me what this symbolizes: infinity, because there’s no limit. There’s always going to be ups and downs no matter who or where you are. But God is infinite, the alpha and omega. I’ll give you another one: yin and yang. There you go. No matter where you are, these all mean the same thing. It doesn’t matter your culture. It doesn’t matter what you look like. These mean the same thing. Your potential doesn’t lie specifically on your body. When the Bible talks about your heart, you know what it’s talking about? Your spirit and the spirit is here, it’s not your physical heart. 

My homelessness came from when COVID hit. I normally don’t go to the doctor, but I got really messed up. I didn’t know what it was. What’s ironic is the fact that I beat it and was able to recover. COVID was a big cause for my homelessness. I’m the youngest, and I was born premature. I have a twin sister. There’s a reason why I wear this amethyst, because I wear this knowing my sister is gonna be okay, and I want her to know that her twin brother got her back. I helped my girlfriend at the time with her son, and when I went to Bible college, I was able to use my money to help him get through high school and pay the bills as well. I started working in manufacturing. I didn’t even think I could do it, but I was able to do it, and that’s been my field of choice since then. That’s over 15 years. 

A challenge I faced during homelessness was the fact that my family turned their backs on me. They thought I was doing drugs. I’m like, “Where did this come from?” It wasn’t specifically a challenge, it was more a disappointment. When things happen, things happen. But one thing I want people to understand: you’ll know who your friends are, and you’ll know who your family are, when things go bad on your side. That’s reality. Who’s going to be there? You know the answer, it’s going to be God. God will always be there. It says the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. It says it for a reason. But mentally, when it comes down to a lot of individuals, they don’t understand that you got people who want you to sit here and suffer. The reason why is because it makes themselves feel better. I don’t want that. I want people to succeed. I want people to understand they are worth everything that God gave them. You may be weaker than the next person, you may be short, you may be tall, you may be strong, but God gave you a purpose regardless. That’s what I focused on!

Getting your own, getting out of that situation, the hard work that goes into it. What got me out was leaving Huntsville. Like I told you, I was abandoned. I slept on the street downtown. None of my family members helped me. They didn’t do anything for me. I went to different establishments. How did I eat? I did artwork. There’s a place called the Cozy Cow, I just talked to them this morning. They haven’t heard from me in a little over a year. That’s how I ate. How did I get money? I never sold a piece of art. You know what I did? I drew. I asked people, “What do you want?” If they wanted to donate, whether they did or not, I still gave it to them. That’s how I gave tithes and offerings. I got free food, but at the same time, nothing in this world is free. I want people to think outside the box, that’s the whole point. One thing I will say: your journey, it’s not the same as others. Understand? For your success, it has everything to do with what you’re trying to accomplish. God gave us every bit of talent, drive, he gave us all this. You’re not the best at everything, but you can be the best that you can be. That’s the point. I don’t have to be Bruce Lee. I don’t have to be Michael Jackson. Just do your best, and you will gain respect. Your hard work pleases God, but at the same time, it pleases you as well. 

Outsiders Inn, they're amazing! The way they operate is something I never experienced. See, in Alabama, they don’t have programs like they do here. As far as figuring out how things work here, I will say this, this program helped a lot. They need programs like this all over, because a lot of people can benefit from that. A lot of these people need somebody to tell not just the truth, but help them understand they’re worth it. It’s time for me to do more. I want to help people, and I’m 100% honest. I want people to know, you’re worth it, especially in God’s eyes.

Being a part of this community means that I’m a part of this family. That’s what it is, it’s a family. I see all these veterans here. I know a lot of them went through a lot of crazy stuff because I talk to them. Everybody has their own story, but at the end of the day, all you have to do is let things sit down and work it out. The stuff that goes on in here doesn’t matter. I believe in everybody’s ability to grow, but it’s still your choice. It’s not my decision to make, that choice is yours. That’s why I believe in integrity. You can’t change that. Integrity is your innocence. Because the thing about it is, when people don’t see what you’re doing, you’re still doing right. A lot of people don’t know what words mean, that’s what integrity is. 

I’m most proud of my two sons. They’re about to be grown. I want them to understand how to succeed and grow. I want to see grandkids. I want them to have a healthy family. I want to see, not just them, but even people these days knowing what a family is. It’s so damaged. It’s time to fix it. My hopes and goals for the future, I don’t know. And the reason why I say that is because I already surrendered my life to God. God is going to lead me to where I need to be. So I don’t have to force it. It’s just like water. Isn’t that what Bruce Lee said? Be fluid. The stream and waves of God’s will will crash into a rock and break. I don’t worry about stuff like that. You don’t worry about tomorrow, you focus on the present. God will have my back. The reason why is because God is going to be there for whatever I need. It’s not about what I want, it’s what I need. That’s the reason why it’s up to Him. That’ll never change. That’s the reason why I was led here. Family is what you make of it. These people are my family. Outpost is my family. People at Walmart are my family. I may travel, but at the same time, I’m here right now. So where I’m at, I’m going to do my best.