For the team of Lindale. For every person suffering with addiction.
"Out beyond ideas and wrongdoing's and right doing's,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.'
"healing the shame that binds you."
At first, it had a purpose; comfort, escape.
It made us laugh. It helped us forget.
It distracted us from existence.
Without it, we were lost in our own skin,
outcast by 'normality' and unable to fit in.
It made us believe we had everything we needed.
In reality, it made everything worse.
It was then, when a voice inside said
is this your life, or should you die?
We couldn't waste our lives anymore.
On the brink of existence, in desperation,
we found help, and guidance from others just like us.
We wanted to live. We wanted to love. We wanted to cope.
We wanted to feel part of something,
be a friend to someone, be a positive person.
With support, we took responsibility.
We now know the route of our weaknesses
and the power we hold within.
With patience and compassion,
we've learned to (belly) laugh without substance;
found independence, resilience and trust.
We didn't know we needed love,
We didn't know we needed community.
Knowing that all our darkness came from hate
from never feeling enough, from being misunderstood,
that we are a consequence of others and ourselves -
every decision that brought us here,
every suicidal thought, every instance of negativity
we are not alone; we are capable of positive change.
Together we've found presence, purpose,
and an ever-growing peace for who we're becoming,
loving ourselves a little more each day.
Everyone deserves this freedom.
Freedom from addiction.
At first, our only motivation was to lose ourselves.
Now, our only motivation is to find ourselves.
By Hayley Frances with words from Caitlin Atkins