In August of this year, I was asked to do another annual training for our Agency. This was also a part of our Health & Wellness initiative (also a cohort that I belong to).
My audiences would consist of driver's, teachers, and a few administrative staff.
The goal was to motivate and remind them of their purpose; to create a sense of community and share my story on how writing not only saved my life, but is therapy.
For our seasoned staff, a spark had been lost. Every day just became another day. Work became so routine that passing coworkers in the hall while on their phones, became transactional encounters. They didn't lose sight of the mission, but they lost an excitement and passion towards it.
I opened up the floor with full transparency, sharing my rough childhood, a spiraling adolescent and dysfunctional young adult. Working for a Head Start, we serve children and families. Our goal is to provide comprehensive services, share resources and give our littles a chance at a healthy, safe and successful childhood. One that I didn't get to have.
For staff, everyone was going through something. What they didn't think to consider was, maybe someone else is going through it with me too. A similar struggle they'd understand; one that we can connect and lean on each other for support.
They looked at me in awe that the Executive Assistant of our agency didn't look nearly like half of what she'd been through. But now I had their attention and they were readily engaged. I asked everyone to participate in a five minute writing session. For five minutes, they had to write about anything. They could write a letter to their younger self, a loved one they have recently lost, a place or places they would like to travel, goals they want to set...literally anything. I played some Alicia Keys in the background and pen to paper they went in.
What they didn't know was after the writing session, they would either be in tears, relaxed, focused and reflective, or surprised at the fact that they simply hadn't taken the time to write in years... or ever! It was therapeutic. It was also eye opening, this realization that they had been so "busy" they didn't make time for themselves enough to just simply think, reflect, write and be still. I asked everyone to turn their paper over and as I came around to collect their sheets, I shuffled the pile.
I read everyone's note...every single person's letter, journal entry, poem, random thought and guess what...they either found themselves in someone else's writing or, they empathized with their vulnerability. The lesson was we are more alike than we know. We are all going through something. But we are all in this together...on the same mission to protect the littles of this world who need healthy, supportive, and caring individuals like themselves to carry out this good work. I saw them interacting with one another afterwards, relating and reflecting; thanking me for imparting words of encouragement and appreciation for what they do.
My heart was full, and they were Waking Up...On the Inside.
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