In these troubled economic times, stories about families working to put their lives back together are even more poignant than usual.
While I was a social worker, I often encountered and, in fact, worked to assist families struggling with addiction issues. Finding treatment and then maintaining that hard-won sobriety in a supportive environment was often a key to success.
Spirit of Woman is an organization/treatment center in Fresno, CA, that has been addressing these issues for many years. In today’s Fresno Bee, there is an article on the front page of the Life section that spotlights this particular program.
Apparently, an old hotel has been renovated and serves as a home for rehabilitating women who have recently been reunited with their children. The women learn to live “sober,” while caring for their children and completing necessary tasks to help maintain the home. They attend classes and therapy throughout the day.
In the article, the founder/chief-executive-officer is seeking donations to help improve the rooms. A pleasant environment, which is a key factor in promoting a chaos-free life, is necessary. While the rooms now are clean and neat, they are showing the wear of age.
Now some may say that these women should be happy just to have a place to stay—and that’s certainly true—but we all know that our environments are crucial to our inner well-being. Our surroundings do not have to be expensive in order to achieve this feeling.
Personally, whenever I am depressed or feeling frustrated with things going on in my life, I look around my home and take comfort in the few beautiful objects that seemingly encircle me with warmth and comfort.
Studies have shown that people even respond positively to certain colors. Some colors evoke peace, while others stir up more negative emotions.
All of this is directed toward eliciting compassion from each of us for those less fortunate…those who are struggling—with the consequences of their own poor choices, certainly—but who still deserve our empathy and any strength we can offer.
If you wish to reach out during this season, I am sure that there is a place in your community, just like this one in mine, that could beneft from your used and no longer needed items.
During this upcoming holiday season, my vow is to turn away from my own feelings of self-pity (for the tough economic times, etc.) and look around at those less fortunate. I am sure to find many!
