"The Gift of Life or Reality"

It's been a moment since my last blog.  Sometimes Real Life takes control and you have to take time out to readjust, grab control or decide what we must do. 

Life has its ups & downs, life is a gift, but so OFTEN we take it for GRANTED.  We hear the term; Life is not fair or why do I get the end f the stick.  Whoever said that Life was going to be fair?  There is no such thing as a "PERFECT LIFE".  We forget that no matter how much we do in life whether it is to get a job we really want, that promotion we deserve,  give all we got to get what we want, treat others as we would like to be treated or always there for when someone needs us.

So why do we get so upset when things do not go the way we expect?  Sometimes our expectations are what we want and not reality.  Some people have had a rough life from childhood for many reasons; they may have come from an abusive household, parents on drugs, a single parent household, living in poverty, and the list can go on.  I can not recall not having anything, but fun through my childhood and adolescent years.  I never heard my parents argue, complain or stress over bills.  Now, when I look today and see all the difference from when I was growing up and look at so many children & adolescents today.  I see sadness, stress, pressure,  and hopelessness. 

I recently applied to a new job site that has to do with my major (Human Services).  Human Service is a wide spread field.  Human Services can become a counselor, social workers, administration for nursing home facilities, work with drug & alcohol patients, and plenty of other opportunities.  I chose to work with youths.  I did not want to work with adults or drug and alcohol abuse.  The place I recently applied for is a youth center for youths from 11-18 and they have Mental Health and Drug addictions.  I was not hesitant because it was still working with youths and even though they still may have a drug or mental issues, I felt I could still be a role model or somehow be a great asset to the company and give these children some hope.











The first day I attended was to see if I would be able to handle or decide if this was right  for me.  I sat in a day program.  The day program is for children who have been either expelled from school because of behavior, dropped out of school, been on & off drugs, come from households where all they saw were parents, siblings and other family members that have been on drugs or suffered with mental health.  I had a chance to sit in two classes that the company offers.  Anger Management and Expressive Art.  I heard stories of young children 15-16  that sniffed and shot up heroine, children who left school to sell drugs and also used.  But what I saw were kids, that needed to feel safe, that needed to know that there are people who care and want to help and  needed to know that this does not have to be their lives, but it is REALITY!


Some of the children did not want to participate, but it is our job as counselors  is to encourage them to participate.  I felt a sense of belonging and I knew I could  be their encouragement or that role model.  Before I left,  one of the young men that had not to long ago entered the program told me that "I was like a breath of fresh air because most of the counselors were just there, but with me  living in different places and in the inner cities, I was able to relate more".  These words encouraged me.  I looked at everything I been going through lately and when I am down, I think how things could ALWAYS be worst, but I reflect back to the children I have worked with and some of the things they have said to me; brings back LIFE in me.  It warms my heart and when I sit down and share my experience with my counselors and school advisor and to hear them tell me, that this meant this child felt safe with me and I am made to do this and MOST OF ALL; I am going to do exceptionally well in this field.  REALITY sets in  and I remember what LIFE is all about.

It is way bigger than what I am going through, what I am going through is a self-worth and deciding what path I have travelled and continue to ask GOD to guide me, but mainly I know now for sure; I am here to make a difference and I do not need others to valid, would I like to hear or be acknowledge? Yes, but I realized that the acknowledgement

does not have to be from the people who I expected to be in my corner, just like the children I am working with.  They are looking for validation through loved ones.  No one owes you anything, your best and worst critics can be a complete stranger, but YOU must face REALITY and acknowledge yourself  and learn to value your LIFE as the MOST VALUABLE GIFT.

"YES I LOVE STRESS"

What is your definition of stress? We are hearing so many people saying, "Life is too short".  After we have experienced so much trauma and death of close friends and family.  Everyone says they want to live life to the fullest.  Life is Life.  It has its ups & downs, sadness, happiness, and just when you think you are going through something so horrifying, we see the news and hear stories of children battling an fatal illness and somehow, we reposition ourselves and see that our lives is GRAND compared to many others.  Some people our homeless or do not know where there next meal is coming from, and here we are with a belly full, a bed and a roof over our heads.  It may not be your dream home, but it's your home.  It may not be the life you expected or planned, but you have LIFE.

S~ Some

T~ Time

R~ Relax 

E~ Energize

S~ Strategies

S~ Success

Everyday we hear the word STRESS and ways to cope with STRESS, but who ever said that STRESS is a bad thing,  Why do we look at everything as a negative source.  I refuse to look at things in a negative light any longer, but decided to use a different  type of light bulb.  I will take things and turn it into a positive resource.  STRESS is part of life, but it depends on how or what we make of it.  Will we let STRESS consume our lives, we should because we will learn to take it as it is and deal with it in another meaning.
As I have just completed Human Development, I have learned what human, development, stress, depression and mostly; LIFE and life span from Infancy until Death.  From the beginning of birth and how we related and communicate to our new found WORLD  and to facing the END.
Think of all the things you have seen, experienced, going through, lived, adapted to new surroundings and then, imagine yourself facing what occurs as we age. 
I thank GOD for allowing me the opportunity to be in the Health care Field at all angles and getting to meet some very impressive, experienced and full of life individuals.  Once I worked around, Alzheimer patients, I enjoyed it even more.  One day, they are 85 and the next day they are 15.  I remember many of our residents telling me not to get old.  Does STRESS go away as we age? Yes.
Depression may even take place, but these residents tell you stories and dress fancy just to come eat a meal and that may be the highlight of their day.  I became close too many and learned to LISTEN because one day, WE ALL will become older, wiser and  yes, my definition of STRESS may decrease, but until then, I will continue to STRESS.