Most importantly, my Mom's surgery is over and her healing process has begun. She is walking on her own and doing physical therapy. After 17 days at my house, her little dog is back home with her. It's a little less stressful around here now.
Lola's adjusting to life here with Ari and Fausto and we are adjusting to her 6am wake up calls. She got spayed yesterday (thank you grant funding at UCAN) and came home in the same day. Dominic cried when we dropped her off and he was a wreck all day until she came home.
Last night was the last 'kids night' at our local bicycle coop. I've been volunteering on Monday nights, and I have to tell you, it is so gratifying. I did a post on DC about it, you can read about it here. I love the kids so much. Teaching a kid to ride a bike gave me goosebumps.
Photo by Michael Providenti
Last night they made fruit smoothies with this cool set up.
I have been thinking long and hard about what I really want to do for a living. My ideal job would be to work with kids ages 12-17 who struggle with addiction. I have put in a few applications, but so far, nothing's come my way. I have heard it will be impossible to do this type of work with a felony on my record, even if the charge is now 16 years old. I'd settle for working with adults in addiction too, or women who live in transitional houses, just like I did, so long ago. I'd even consider going back to school for an associates degree if I had to.
It's so hard, trying to figure this shit out. I know there is a plan for me, I just don't know what it is.
6 comments:
You've got a lot of soul, and a lot of heart. I understand how hard it is to give back when no one seems to let you. Don't give up. You've got a lot that people can benefit from.
And think of it this way. It's not the finish, but the journey. Just like your bike racing, and like your Ironman, the journey is just as valuable as reaching the finish, maybe even more.
You'll get there. And we'll keep cheering you on.
You have a HUGE heart Judi, thank goodness you are there for those kids. Just because you learned the hard way in the past, don't let it stop you from working at a half way house. Many of the folks at our Mission came up on the hard streets, they speak the speak.
As we discussed years ago, opportunity unfold when you are ready to see them. My biggest motto is "when the student is ready, the teacher appears".
You'll get there my friend, you'll get there....
I thought that kid on the smoothie making bike was some viral thing--not something you were actually part of! That is all so awesome!
I'm surprised the felony is hurting you on that one. I would think everybody who had any sort of experience would have at least one felony.
Maybe a degree is a good idea. I don't have one but it doesn't mean it doesn't help other people. ;-)
Maybe you go write a grant and come up with your own after school program teaching kids to ride and ultimately race bikes. You can do and be whatever you want.
That has always been my hardest struggle. What do I want to be when I grow up. Thankfully, I love being a realtor, helping families find the right home. I know that unlike a lot of other realtors, I won't let them do something that I think would not be good for their family. I just had a deal fall apart. It cost me $8400. And I was happy because I never liked the seller and there was something about the whole thing that made the hairs on my neck stand up. I love that I just lost a bunch of money and don't care because it means I got it right. I can set my own schedule, I can train when I need to and I can hang out with my dogs when I want to. For me, that's a great job. It took me 50 years to get here.
Your path has been amazing since we originally met. I can't wait to see where you end up.
I think it's great that you want to work with kids or adults with addiction problems. I hope that works out for you. ;)
Don't let worries about your record hold you back.
Across the country there are programs for adults in recovery who want to use their experience to help others.
DO check in with your local community college (consider some psych classes in child psychology, adult psych, and the psychology of addicition) about night classes and internship programs; and see if there's someone who could mentor you while you develop the skills and accreditation you need to enter this line of work. Also consider setting up some informational interviews with people who currently work in the field, to find out more about their work and what kind of training is needed.
You might also want to contact your local PD and see if a parole officer would be willing to talk with you about potential avenues into the field for someone with a record. (I cannot believe they would NOT want to talk with you about entering this kind of work.)
Finally, if you have a sponsor, check in with them and see if they have other useful information or resources for you to check out.
Definitely GO for it. And keep me posted.
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