Monday Muses~ Craig's Table~Workers Recovery

It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, especially when you are not sure what "help" there actually is or even if there is help that can be put into place . It takes even more courage to step forward seeking help when in the past such assistance was inferred as not available. So often the only thing that can be done to assure the "asker" that they have the right to ask and they have the right to receive is to simply "be there" meet them where they are, and then grow from there with each step. At Craig's Table "growth" is measured in leaps and bounds just as often as it is measured in micro steps. When "trust" arrives from knowing/understanding that safe ground and common ground are in a place that resonates deep inside the essence of each heartbeat, then and only then does the light of hope shine bright. Each week Corey and I hear almost the same words "I didn't think anyone would come" "I didn't think I mattered to anyone anymore" "I didn't think that anyone would understand" It is so very hard to hear these words, because these words come from the brokenness that far too many within the injured worker try so desperately to hide as if they had something to be shamed and shameful of.

One of the new placements at Craig's Table had to summon every shred of belief and courage and hope that could be mustered, all the shattered and torn threads of the broken morrow needed to be cast off, and a tentative hand had to be placed into the hands of total strangers who were offering to grasp hold and not let go not now not ever and not even when the need to hold had long since passed by. Hugs replaced the hollow emptiness, the quicksand was replaced by solid belief, the loneliness was slowly being filled by friends who "just know" and peace eased itself back into being. More importantly there was the hint of "that" smile that can only be found when trust itself can be trusted.

Today I found yet another small collection of papers that I thought I had filed away from doing all the research for my Churchill Foundation application. Workplace Injuries Supporting an injured worker to return safely to work as quickly as possible makes good business sense. Getting back to work can reduce the financial and emotional impact on a worker and their family. It can also be an important factor in helping them recover and return to normal life. ... If an employee has a work-related injury, there may be an overlap between work health and safety legislation, workers compensation schemes and the Disability Discrimination Act. Even after 20+ years there is still so much to learn. It is simply fascinating to me to read and be able to offer more support to the injured worker community. Sitting on 2 major committees outside/alongside of Craig's Table requires that much of the Churchill research be revisited and more research is to be done. I am very much looking forward to taking part in telos thinking and watching new concepts coming into being.

Speaking of reading, everyone who knows me knows just how important books are for me, so it should come as no surprise to anyone else that Craig's Table is about to open" its own Street Library Corey and I collected the kit this afternoon, it will be put together and painted by whoever is in Bay One over the coming days, then it will be fixed in place for the wider community around Craig's Table to be a part of and for the A Team to take care of. For us return to community is a vital part of everything we do, putting in a small Street Library simply adds another texture to all we are already doing.

It's time to have my cup of tea and then do the few dinner dishes. Before I do that I must say hello to Marques it was so wonderful to speak with you last week. I am also looking forward to chatting with Derick tomorrow afternoon.

Yours in service

Rosemary

Social equity for injured workers

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NUMBERS NEVER LIE - BUT DATA IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO KNOW

A MAP THAT DOES NOT EXIST FOR A PATHWAY THAT CANNOT BE SEEN AND THE ARRIVING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF A COMP LAUDE

WASTE NOT WANT NOT

FRUSTRATION AND DETERMINATION