Heroes in Recovery Lead Advocates Serve Dinner at The Next Door
As part of the Heroes in Recovery Lead Advocate Winter Summit training, the 2015 Heroes in Recovery lead advocates recently visited The Next Door, a nonprofit residential addiction treatment facility for women in downtown Nashville, TN. The purpose of their visit was simple: To perform an act of community service by serving dinner to the residents. But the rewards were bountiful.
It was truly an incredible experience for all of the lead advocates. Exactly how did they feel about taking time out of their day to serve women in recovery?
We thought we’d let them tell you in their own words.
Hillary Belk:
Volunteering is always so much fun! In my life I’ve had a lot of people volunteer their time to help me. I did a lot of volunteering growing up. I always enjoyed it. Something changed, though, when I got to a point in my life where it was imperative to start focusing on my recovery and helping other people. It was no longer something I did every once in a while. It became an aspect of my life and the lives of the people around me. Through many instances, the one thing that stays consistent is being able to meet so many wonderful people that have nothing but gratitude for your presence, felt through very memorable conversations and exchanges that have the power to enhance the experience even more. There’s a type of energy that surrounds volunteering. It is uplifting and quite inviting.
This particular evening I was able to meet someone at the beginning of a brand new leg of her journey. She was happy to share her story with Heroes in Recovery. I loved the hope she exuded. I felt honored she took the time to speak to us. I left The Next Door feeling very happy for the opportunity we were able to share with the ladies! I look forward to more opportunities in the future. I have a feeling they will continue to be awe-inspiring! I’m so grateful to be doing soul’s purpose work with the individuals we have aligned with as Lead Advocates for Heroes In Recovery and those in my recovering life. What we do truly makes a difference!
Bo Brown:
I was very excited when I heard that the 2015 Lead Advocates were volunteering at The Next Door in Nashville. I never knew what an effect it would have on myself. From listening to recovery stories to forming a prayer circle before serving, the entire event was a life changing experience. Volunteering is a selfless gift that each of us has the ability to offer to our own communities. The sincere appreciation of your service is good for the soul. I am thankful for The Next Door for allowing us into their sanctuary and allowing us to give back. I am forever grateful for this opportunity.
Dean Dauphinais:
I was almost moved to tears when the residents and lead advocates all stood in a circle, held hands, and prayed before the meal. And while we were serving dinner to these brave women, I couldn’t help but see the hopefulness and gratitude in their eyes. These ladies were taking a giant step toward recovery, and I was, at that moment, right there in the middle of it. It was one of the most humbling things I have ever experienced.
As I stood behind the food counter, wearing plastic gloves and using tongs to place sausage on multiple dinner plates, I was also engulfed by an enormous wave of gratitude. Seeing so many women just beginning their journey to recovery made me appreciate even more the journey that my son and my entire family has been on. We may have gone through hell, but we came out on the other side. I hope these women are able to do the same.
Susanne Johnson:
As people find their true happiness, joy, and freedom in recovery, and are feeling this limitless release from the bondage of self and substances, there is for most a point where they want to give back. Giving back seems to be a need for human beings, as we don’t want to feel short to those who freely offered their help, their time, lots of efforts, and often financial contribution to us while we were in a hopeless stage of our life. We tend to find it problematic to accept this selfless help we received as a gift, and look for ways to return the favor.
Recovery works differently. There is no “giving back” at all, only a “paying forward.” We can’t usually contact counselors from our treatment time, besides maybe sending a thank you card. We can’t return hugs to all we met in those days. We can’t return all the insights and hope people gave us that helped us recover. But we can pay it forward and snowball an avalanche of help to those in need.
The lead advocates pulled on our “VOLUNTEER” shirts and paid a little of our own fortune of recovery forward to those in the beginning of their journey. From my own experience, I remember how rare and important a smile was when I was in treatment for substance abuse, feeling so sick and discouraged at first. We were able to go into The Next Door with a smile; made awesome new friends; shared a little of our experience, strength, and hope with the current clients; and listened to their stories while we served them dinner.
If you feel grateful about your recovery, you can share your hope and gratitude forward as well, by visiting those who are in need of some kind words, and who need to see that recovery is possible. Pay it forward. You can only keep your recovery if you share it with others. I took a lot home from this visit, and I am grateful.
Lisa McNamara:
A million emotions came into my head as I walked through those secure doors. This was me not that long ago, struggling and feeling defeated, yet having that slim sliver of hope. That maybe, just maybe, I would get through this very dark time if I just let go and turned it all over to God.
I loved being able to tell some of them that I was once in their shoes, and that I knew how they were feeling. To let them know and see that recovery is real. Not only is it real, it’s unbelievable! They just have to want it with all their being. I could tell that they were happy we were there. I think it made them realize that people do care about them, and that they are not alone. We are all in this together!
Marta Mrotek:
The time we spent at The Next Door was relatively short—a couple of hours, tops—and the amount of work we actually did was entirely minor in relation to what we received. Serving dinner to these women was an honor. Their faces were so clearly filled with gratitude, and their words of thanks were so sincere for such a small, seemingly insignificant service as the one that we were performing. We were literally just scooping food onto plates, and yet once we had the chance to start talking to them their message was clear. It had nothing to do with the food and nothing to do with the actual service. It was our presence that mattered.
Somehow these beautiful, brave, incredibly strong women seemed almost surprised that anyone cared enough to even show up. Talk about reaffirming the need for breaking the stigma. These ladies, and so many out there just like them, need to be reminded on a regular basis that they are the real heroes. Taking those first steps requires massive amounts of courage. Making the changes that heal and rebuild a life is hard work, a whole lot harder and infinitely more inspiring than scooping some food onto a plate. We were the ones that were blessed that night. The women’s presence was the most meaningful gift that was given, and for that I am truly grateful.
B. Rae Perryman:
One of the things that struck me about early recovery is how undignified the process can be and often feels. Life is messy, but this part of life feels downright awful when you’re going through it. Or, at least, it did for me. What struck me most about the team’s service at The Next Door is how, through as simple an act as joyfully serving a meal, we might have imparted a little dignity. When you’re first getting clean, you have a tendency to look rough, and feel even rougher. We approached every woman with equanimity, and we served them all with genuine smiles and full hearts. Treating people in very early recovery with dignity is key to creating a shameless foundation on which to build a sustainable and happy life.
Giving back to others is such a powerful gesture that can have a lifelong impact.
What are YOU doing to give back?