Don't You Forget About Me

I can't go into full details right now, but we had an incident at work today that was a huge wake up call for me. 

We really need better mental health initiatives here, and way better options for people who are impoverished and don't have the opportunity to access these initiatives. These are the "forgotten people", as I call them. We spend a lot of time focusing energies on improving the mental health and well-being of those who are aware and able to take these opportunities. We know that if we offer services to those who seek them, they will be utilised. But what about the people who don't even have the capacity to use their free health care? Who don't have time to walk into a medi-center? Who are too scared to report their bruises? When your biggest concern is finding enough money for your next meal, you're not going to walk into a counsellors' office to deal with the years of child abuse you suffered, or the voices that are inside your head, or the violent gangs you got involved with for a quick fix that one time you really needed an escape and are terrified they are coming to murder you.

I work for a company that offers low-income housing to individuals, and we currently have a three year wait list. Every other company similar to ours is like this in Edmonton. Day after day I have to turn away people who are trying to figure out how to get on their feet again, because we simply don't have space for them. A safe place. The emergency shelters are full. We are full. There's no "in-between". You wait three years or you wait for an emergency shelter to no longer have emergencies. In that time, you have to figure out how to get your next meal. A home means so much to these people. A home can be the difference between relapsing again and finding a job. A home offers hope. 

We need to do better. That is all.

If Not Me, Then Who?

Sometimes I take pride in the fact that I put in a lot of effort to see very few, or unrecognizable results. Yes, I actually enjoy the fact that I spend hours passionately working towards what I believe in, only to see that so few other people are passionate about those things, and that so little is getting done in something I thought could become big overnight.

Why would I even enjoy that? My answer is simple:

It proves my worth.

If I'm not doing these things, then who else will? Clearly, if I'm the only one standing at the sidelines promoting something that I feel needs improvement, nobody else was going to step up to the task.

I used to wait around for something to happen. I used to think "oh, somebody else will start it, and I can just join on". But the fact is that everyone else is waiting for things to start, too. Everyone else is waiting to join somebody. Nobody wants to initiate for fear of failure.

Failure only means that there's a stronger need for people like you.

In September of 2015, I did something I had wanted to do since high school. I initiated a program called Elf Anonymous. I wanted to make a difference in senior's lives, and to give them a Christmas party when they didn't get visitors anymore. I kept thinking nobody else would be interested. I thought I'd be the only one who thought it was worth their time. After several moments of trying to encourage a group of strangers to have a sense of community through my volunteerism in my community league, I had given up on anybody thinking my ideas were great.

But then something happened. I had an outpouring of strangers asking to be involved. The senior homes I partnered with were eternally grateful for my inquiry into helping them. I had to turn away volunteers because I had too many.

I realized there are people like me. They might just be harder to find.

I have been volunteering with The Greater Edmonton Animal Rescue Society since the summer of 2015, mostly from my computer as a blogger. The animal rescue was not my idea - that was one of those "let someone else create it" moments. But the desire to do good things for the world has always been a personal trait of mine. I am starting to realize where I am needed more and more. There is always an animal needing a loving hand. There is always more for me to do. I should never give up on the fact that maybe most people won't want to do these jobs, or be on board with my ideas. I should take solice in the fact that there are a few diamond in the roughs who do want these jobs, and will support me when I take them on.

There's always room for you. If not you, then who?