A Reflection on the Last 10 Years

Open Letter to all our People

Several months ago, when I was reminded by some of you that in June this year, MHI would be turning 10 years old, it made me pause. Prior to MHI, back in the late 1990s, I had embarked on a journey to give meaning to people’s lived experience, and support to those who were struggling. Of course, peer support existed well before I ever came across it, but what I envisaged was a world where people need not recover in isolation.

Halfway through our first decade in existence (2016 - 2017) MHI had a breakthrough. We were blessed with the opportunity to lead the Peer Support Nova Scotia program. This was a big decision for what was at the time a relatively nimble consultancy made up of less than half a dozen people.

As I look back, the decision to accept this piece of work was a real turning point. Personally, I can say that my life is so much fuller and more meaningful now that each one of you made the decision to share a part of yourself to help others and join the team. Be it peer supporters part of the (Peer Support Nova Scotia) PSNS program or associates and employees, each one has a unique and personal reason for wanting to do what we do.

While most humans will turn their attention away from working in this space after experiencing hardship, all of you have made the decision to lean in and make it better for someone else. You made the decision to “pay it forward” in some way.

Life is hard, it has thrown curve balls at each one of you and in some cases may have tried to knock you down, but you stood back up. More importantly, you made the decision to share a part of yourself with others; share a part of yourself with MHI.

We, humans, are created to give back. In our day and age, where society has become so fragmented, having the good fortune to work with those who are prepared to “give time” is an honour and a blessing. Leaning forward like you do means taking risks, but as Albert Einstein once said: “A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it's built for.”

Thank you.