The other day I was walking home and I passed someone on the street who looked familiar but I wasn't sure it was them. Shortly afterwards I realized it was for sure that person and I was just in denial when I passed them because it was out of context and I didn't know what to do.
People hanging around in my neighbourhood wandering around appearing stoned can't be in a good place. I have been impacted by seeing them for several days now. I talked to friends about it. Sometimes treatment programs aren't enough for people. And I'm thinking this person has been through one of the most resource-intensive programs we have available in the country and it wasn't enough to keep them off the streets. If they want to refuse treatment, they can, and we can't stop them from doing whatever they're doing.
When I think about my neighbourhood and who's in it and we talk about treatment facilities and where we're going to put our money as a society, I'm aware that money won't do it. People have to want treatment because we're not going to be locking them up for being addicts or for dealing with mental health issues. I still think we need more facilities for people to be able to use so that they can come and go - anyone who's quit smoking can probably relate to having to quit many times.
Anways, it's a big, big issue with no apparent easy answers. In my Landmark/Yoga background there's an echo in my head of, "There's nothing wrong. That's just how it is right now." "What's happening is someone dropped out, left home, is on drugs, and is maybe sorting things out or not."
I like it when the yoga classes work out and things turn out and people's lives get back on track and things are fixed and it's nice. It's harder to deal with things not working out and people getting hurt in yoga or it not making a difference or people just choosing whatever they choose which may not be what I'd choose for them. But that's a much more real place for me to stand and sit in - when it doesn't go my way. When I have to respect or at least witness someone else's choices or hear their cries, which may not be for help.
4 comments:
It's so much easier to prevent things like this than to try to fix them afterwards. We could focus a lot more time, money and energy into preventative health- mental and physical. But since you have someone on your doorstep who needs help, you can, very casually reach out-- say hi, nice weather, etc., just so she knows you see her.
Thanks. I think your point about prevention is a good one. And I'll keep my eyes open for her - reaching out to her when I do come across her again.
I spent a short, yet intense period of time with this very special young man years ago. I
learned, that to love him was extremely easy and extremely difficult at the same time. For every step forward there were two backward, and more then anything I wanted him to be running and jumping and soaring. I'm sure to know him, was to hope for that. In fact I bet that everyone in his life wished they could just take him, tug really hard and pull him along. But he had his own path, and I'm really honored that I was able to cross it. but what was most hard, was excepting that I could not change it. only he could, and I tell you, he tried. rehab is even harder to find in rual nova scotia.
He was an amazing teacher.
He taught me that true open-mindedness ment being open-minded to everyone, including close-minded people. He taught me to spot the quite voice of judgement.
He often danced through my mind, and his name would always come up
whenever I talked with old friends. but He died in 2003. and my only regreat, was having not told him what a great impact knowing him, had on me.
Excellent post, and excellent comments too.
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