“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ― Dalai Lama
Regardless of how we act, we all can make a difference in the world. If we act negatively, then we have a negative effect on those around us. And if we act positively, we help make the world a better place.
We have over 100 people at TLC who perform various jobs. And in my mind, the jobs they do are very important. And that's because what they do ultimately helps other addicts and alcoholics get clean and sober.
But many times, when they're feeling down, they forget that what they're doing to help others in recovery makes a big difference in the world.
Some of our people manage houses. Some of them find jobs for the clients. Some answer telephones. Others serve as security guards. Others collect service fees and put the money in the bank. Others collect enough food to serve 2500+ meals a day, while still others cook and serve the same food. Some repair roofs, laundry machines, leaky pipes. You name it, if it breaks or needs maintenance, someone on our staff is able to fix it.
At its best, TLC runs like a well-oiled machine, all parts functioning smoothly. At other times, when the planets are not in alignment, it doesn't function very well at all and everything kinda grinds to a halt for a few hours until we get everything back on track.
But sometimes our clients don't look at what they do as being very important. And I have to point out to them that when we help someone rebuild their lives that's extremely important.
When a father or mother graduates from our program and returns home to lead a sober life with their family that makes a big difference. All of a sudden mom and dad are present for their children. They're no longer going to jail, selling drugs, stealing, and doing all the other terrible things that addicts do to maintain their addiction. Instead, the children have a parent who drops them off at school, a parent who attends their ballgames and school events, a parent who takes them on vacation.
And a parent who behaves this way stands a chance of raising sober children who will never step foot in a jail or a halfway house. and that's the kind of difference we can make in the world.
Click here to email John
