What time is it?
Yesterday morning while volunteering at the C2UExpo in Surrey, I met a young man who approached me asking for the time. He rode a bike and seemed as though he would be open to receiving food that I had intentionally in my bag for someone in need. I asked him if he was hungry and he said he was. I offered an apple and then a choice of cookies or a granola bar. He chose the cookies. As he ate the apple, he shared with me that he was wanting to connect with his friend to get his belongings. He also shared that he would be in a recovery home on 108th street in Surrey as he has used heroine since the age of 15. He has hopes to go to school although there are days that he feels that he wouldn't be missed if he was dead. He shared that he never finished high school and that prior to his addiction to drugs he was addicted to video games. You should also now that he related to himself as "NOT NORMAL". I asked him what normal was? I also shared with him that we all have moments of vulnerability and that it is not his fault that video games were in his life and that drugs were and are so readily available to him. He took accountability for choosing drugs, but he also feels that there he is not worthy. I supported his person by validating his need for connection and I told him that he was important and that he would be missed if he took his life or died. I also shared with him that if he has hope to go to a trade school he should do that as he is worth success. Please know that I am a person of compassion without judgment and I do the work that I do to prevent moments where children or young people need to seek out "abusive" or choices that will result in mental or phyiscal pain. I am an encourager of healthy adult to child attachments, the importance of peer interaction, nutrition and sleep and phyiscal movement and the outdoors. I am aware of the damage that screen time, neglect, emotional abuse and trauma has on our mind, body and spirit. I ask that you find the time to connect and bridge healthy relationships with the people that are in your lives. I have FAITH that we were created to love and to inspire one another. Have a great day xo