My Birthday Boy!

Not quite 50 yet ~

still 3 days to go

before maturity

or permission to be immature

kicks in for the next 50 years.

I do have faith that

each day he’s smilin’ 

age is only a number.

Love him dearly!

“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”

~ William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Pass It On

Give me one smile

Give me one thank you

Have faith in your neighbour

Have faith in humanity

Say hello to a passersby

Say hello to a stranger

Give them all just one smile

Give them all just one thank you.

“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.”

~ Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Warming

when the cold goes to the bone

deep into the bone

when the body shivers and shakes

only controlled by will

there is no medicine like

The Blanket Warmer

in nursing I’ve used many tools

to care for

to ease pains,

especially for those in opiate withdrawal

there is no medicine like

The Blanket Warmer

stacks of clean flannel blankets

tucked behind a silver door

temperature set to warm

till the soft fuzzy blankets absorb the heat

becoming the magic medicine from

The Blanket Warmer

wrapping the one shivering cold and helpless

in the soft kind warmth 

a visible softness smiles on the face

while eyes close peacefully

arms pull warmth close, grateful for

The Blanket Warmer

“Hope is like yeast, you know, rising under warmth.”

~ Leif Enger, Peace Like a River

The Best Umbrella

Chocolate cake with a delicious filling!

It is seldom that I have an opportunity to see and meet with an entire community team. Let me back  up. The Umbrella Society has outreach workers that we at Detox see usually on a daily basis. But only one at a time. They may see one of our shared clients, or two or three. And then we each go on with our work to care for those that still suffer from active substance use.

Tonight I attended the Umbrella Annual General Meeting as an interested observer. A very interested observer. So many of the folks we care for at Detox have been supported and worked with by the dedicated team from the Umbrella Society. Beginning with one man founding this society and growing into a team of 15 outreach workers, this organization meets people outside of any barriers. I believe the words are ‘meeting people where they are at.’

With each passing year, the name Umbrella has more and more meaning. Today I had the opportunity, the very rare opportunity, to see the team. The team that makes up the spokes of this ever growing Umbrella. Men and women that have faith in the human heart and the ability of their clients to achieve success within sobriety. And for that, Umbrella has my deepest and sincerest gratitude.

Go to their webpage: umbrellasociety.ca and learn what their programs are, and if you choose, how you can participate.

(And the cake was delicious!)

“I didn’t invent the rainy day. I just own the best umbrella.”

~ Jimmy Fallon

If I Could Help You

A second poem with the title the same as a Leonard Cohen poem:

If I Could Help You

If I could help you

I would learn to say no

I would wait for you to ask

If I could help you 

I would ease your suffering

but only if you told me

'I'm ready to feel better'

If I could help you

I would share my story

so you knew you were not alone

If I could help you 

I would allow you to fall

ready to give you a hand up

when you sensed it was time to stand

If I could help you 

I would make you tea and toast

if tea and toast was medicine enough

If I could help you

I would listen to your story

to learn where the pain had injured your soul

to learn where your faith and strength was hidden

If I could help you

I would.

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, 

revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anyone.”

~ Audrey Hepburn

Surfacing

Surfacing

into clear air

breathing deeply

walking slowly

planting, tidying, organizing

faith that simple self care

will counter the deep dive of yesterday and yesterday.

“This above all, to refuse to be a victim. 

Unless I can do that I can do nothing.”

~ Margaret Atwood, Surfacing

Going Deep

Going deep

deep into today

sorting through each minute

looking for what was good

what was right

what glowed

yet the flatness of this day

glossed over any moments

of rightness

of goodness

of the moments that glowed

except for faith

in the human heart ~

the heart, mind and soul that suffers

that has come from a broken life story

I found tiny moments that were

    right

        good

             shining with gloss

Going deep into today

“Without deep reflection one knows from 

daily life that one exists for other people.”

~ Albert Einstein