I would like ot know, when you were using, did you ever meet a worker (social worker, harm reductionist, someone who gave out clean equipment and accepted you as you were) that made a difference in your life?. Did having that person in your life help when things were bad, when you were at your lowest? did they treat your abcessess? did someone make that day a little bit easier to get through?
I appreciate anyone answering this post for me.
Brit
Hey Brit,
How ya been?Hope all is well with you, and yours. I can answer this for ya although I am not eloquent. The answer is:
ABSOLUTELY. Although I was never out on the street there were people who helped me, and I will never, ever forget them. Brit, the mere fact another human being treats you as such can be a life saver. We get used to people looking down on us and avoiding us, and then mix in our own deadly low self esteem and an act of kindness or just another person chatting ya up like you're still human does wonders. Anyone at the needle exchange we know are serving out of care and compassion. It sure ain't for money or getting to hobknob with the rich and famous.
Now we may not even utter more than a thank you. Heck, we might not even give that, but somewhere and some place in the back of our minds we are eternally grateful. The person who showed some compassion will cross our minds and for me anyway, Brit once getting clean I know I remembered the people who helped me when I was at my lowest.
Brit, I hope you don't mind. Maybe I can use your question as a sort of thank you to someone that helped me. I was in a rehab and I was dirty, sick, and mean. At that place where you're not sure if ya wanna do this getting clean thing, and finally in my right mind seeing things for what they were. Point blank me being a screw up and a mess. Obviously not tooo happy with me ya know?
It happened to fall on Valentine's Day we were in rehab. Well, one of the counselors came in that morning and she asked us at breakfast if we could give her a moment and she said Happy Valentine's Day everyone. This lady, Brit brought from a $1 Store little hearts with chocolates in them and each and every one of us got one. Out of her own pocket this lady bought these Valentine candies for us.
To know someone thought enough of us to give us a gift? I mean there's no price on that and yeah we were junkies. Some of us didn't even make it through rehab, but Brit the response even from the guys!!!!!!!!!! Some of us had tears in our eyes. Some got all giddy and excited and yepper some people do ya know that was the very first time in their life they got a candy heart of chocolates on Valentine's Day?
Although I went back out after that forever I have remembered what that woman did. That small gesture that helped make me human again has stayed with me. I even tried to get at her like two years ago and she had transfered to another facility and they were not at liberty to say where, but I did tell the person on the phone what she did, and they said "That'd be Barb alright".
Brit, it's a tough line of work you are in, but I understand very rewarding at times. I know we can seem ungrateful or detached, but we do appreciate the help and kindness especially when nobody else will help. Thank you for all you do each day Brit, and thank you to Miss Barb wherever she is cause her thoughtfulness touched a few people that day of hearts. Know you are appreciated, Brit. That's a given.
How ya been?Hope all is well with you, and yours. I can answer this for ya although I am not eloquent. The answer is:
ABSOLUTELY. Although I was never out on the street there were people who helped me, and I will never, ever forget them. Brit, the mere fact another human being treats you as such can be a life saver. We get used to people looking down on us and avoiding us, and then mix in our own deadly low self esteem and an act of kindness or just another person chatting ya up like you're still human does wonders. Anyone at the needle exchange we know are serving out of care and compassion. It sure ain't for money or getting to hobknob with the rich and famous.
Now we may not even utter more than a thank you. Heck, we might not even give that, but somewhere and some place in the back of our minds we are eternally grateful. The person who showed some compassion will cross our minds and for me anyway, Brit once getting clean I know I remembered the people who helped me when I was at my lowest.
Brit, I hope you don't mind. Maybe I can use your question as a sort of thank you to someone that helped me. I was in a rehab and I was dirty, sick, and mean. At that place where you're not sure if ya wanna do this getting clean thing, and finally in my right mind seeing things for what they were. Point blank me being a screw up and a mess. Obviously not tooo happy with me ya know?
It happened to fall on Valentine's Day we were in rehab. Well, one of the counselors came in that morning and she asked us at breakfast if we could give her a moment and she said Happy Valentine's Day everyone. This lady, Brit brought from a $1 Store little hearts with chocolates in them and each and every one of us got one. Out of her own pocket this lady bought these Valentine candies for us.
To know someone thought enough of us to give us a gift? I mean there's no price on that and yeah we were junkies. Some of us didn't even make it through rehab, but Brit the response even from the guys!!!!!!!!!! Some of us had tears in our eyes. Some got all giddy and excited and yepper some people do ya know that was the very first time in their life they got a candy heart of chocolates on Valentine's Day?
Although I went back out after that forever I have remembered what that woman did. That small gesture that helped make me human again has stayed with me. I even tried to get at her like two years ago and she had transfered to another facility and they were not at liberty to say where, but I did tell the person on the phone what she did, and they said "That'd be Barb alright".
Brit, it's a tough line of work you are in, but I understand very rewarding at times. I know we can seem ungrateful or detached, but we do appreciate the help and kindness especially when nobody else will help. Thank you for all you do each day Brit, and thank you to Miss Barb wherever she is cause her thoughtfulness touched a few people that day of hearts. Know you are appreciated, Brit. That's a given.
Dear sweet Bryn, thankyou so much for your answer, your words were so touching, I am crying as I type this. I feel selfish asking the question I did, last night I was at a bbq and someone told me point blank that my job is a waste of their tax payers money. I know that she was talking bollocks, normally anothers opinion does not bother me,for some reason, hers stayed with me. So there I am in the early hours seeking reasurance. You have given it to me, how silly to let her opinion of what I do worry me, anothers thougts on my job,my passion has never gotten to me. I must have been having an off day.
Even so... You have made my day dear Bryn, I thankyou with all of my heart.
Best wishes.
Karen
Even so... You have made my day dear Bryn, I thankyou with all of my heart.
Best wishes.
Karen
Dear Karen, thank you for doing the work you do. It surely is God's work.
My daughter has told me of all the wonderful people who treated her with so much compassion and respect when she was at the detox center, and the rehab clinicshe attends.
She recognizes the fact that she needs help, and is grateful that there are people like you who are there for her.
Bryn, good to see you on again. I loved your story of the valentine heart.
Such a kind gesture that made such an impact on you.
You have given many "valentine hearts " to all of us.
rita
My daughter has told me of all the wonderful people who treated her with so much compassion and respect when she was at the detox center, and the rehab clinicshe attends.
She recognizes the fact that she needs help, and is grateful that there are people like you who are there for her.
Bryn, good to see you on again. I loved your story of the valentine heart.
Such a kind gesture that made such an impact on you.
You have given many "valentine hearts " to all of us.
rita
Very few- - It was a dog eat dog existence- Im sure there were a few that might have helped me get thru a sick day or 2
but for the most part ,an active junkie is on his own. Looking out for those kind souls that look to gain your trust just to beat ya the 1st chance they get
sorry for being so negative I just got in from work
see ya
jack
but for the most part ,an active junkie is on his own. Looking out for those kind souls that look to gain your trust just to beat ya the 1st chance they get
sorry for being so negative I just got in from work
see ya
jack
Ach, hey Brit why wouldn't it bother ya? Iregardless of who said that to ya it still has an impact. I'm betting though that person has never had a loved one who needed a kindness when in a awful spot let alone while in addiction. Waste of taxpayer's money? Pffffffffttttttttt!!!!!!!!! Oh I could go on, but I'd have said that perhaps I'd maybe saved just one person from disease which would require many years of medical care and that'd be coming out her pocket as well and then some. Sometimes people just s*ck I swear.
It was my pleasure to share and again you are appreciated. Don't let em get ya down. Like ya said maybe you were having a bad day or something. It happens. Heck with that chick.
Hey, my Miss Rita. That was kind of you to share. Missing ya. Jack, your avatar is trippy. LOL Hope ya got some chill time in after work. I'm thinking some downashore time is needed. LOL
It was my pleasure to share and again you are appreciated. Don't let em get ya down. Like ya said maybe you were having a bad day or something. It happens. Heck with that chick.
Hey, my Miss Rita. That was kind of you to share. Missing ya. Jack, your avatar is trippy. LOL Hope ya got some chill time in after work. I'm thinking some downashore time is needed. LOL
