Soaring to California

I have always wanted to go to California, but today I was excited for someone else. To tell the truth, I was trilled.

Here’s the deal.

As some of you may know, I am a counselor for adults with mental health problems who are trying to navigate their way back to an independent life. Well this morning I was talking to one of my clients and I was pleasantly surprised when he told me that he was moving out in one week and heading to Los Angeles to live by himself.

Here’s what you need to understand. This man for a long time suffered from server anxiety that made it difficult for him to function by himself. Now he had faced and conquered his demons.

“Everyone has an idea of what paradise represent. For me, Los Angeles has been my paradise and for six years I wanted to go there. It’s a place that I know would make me happy. For six years I struggled but never got well enough to make the move to Los Angeles," he told me.

Now this good but once troubled man had now defeated his demons. He was lucid and had with military precision planned his move to Los Angeles. He could not only tell me where he was going to live but also how he was going to get the money he needs to live on. All the relevant agencies were notified and he had completed mandated paper work. In short, his brain was as sharp as it was before the world turned upside down for him. He was ready for L A.

For me this was a testament of all the hard work that had been done to help him build his resolve. This was a very happy day. Imagine finding a wounded bird with broken wings. It wants to fly but it’s damaged wings won’t allow it. So, you gradually help it to mend its wings until it’s ready to fly. One day you look up and you are a bit taken back when instead of finding the bird in the back yard, you see it flying high in the sky above your head and heading to the heavens.

This is the way I felt. I had helped a man who kept falling to the ground, get up and soar to the sky. It was a very good day. Now it’s your turn. Who are you going to help soar?