Thursday, May 31, 2012


"One day at a time, one minute to the next, counting each breath."

I often think that to be busy is a gift. And clearly here at Sound Community Services we always seem to be busy-very busy! There is always some new grant to write for, some new innovation to explore, or some crisis to resolve. The ever present press of agency business occupies me and the management team and sometimes prevents us all, individually and collectively from appreciating the excellence around us and sometimes taking for granted those staff that consistently but quietly provide excellent service to their clients and the agency. Cynthia Ozick, reminds us, “When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren’t grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” Diane Loomis-Setts is that staff member who during her tenure here at Sound has made remarkable contributions including almost singlehandedly revitalizing our Intensive Outpatient program and now leading our Outpatient Program to a new level of excellence and innovation as Clinical Director. I have been remiss in taking her for granted and not expressing to her my gratitude and the gratitude of the Board of Directors.

     I was reminded of her quiet excellence in a letter that was sent to me by a client describing the impact our IOP program and Diane herself has had on her life. Let me share that letter with you.

“Dear Gail,


I am writing in order to explain to you just how much the Sound Community Services IOP program has saved my life. Although I have not battled substance abuse, physical abuse or many of the other issues so many in groups have, my life too, fell apart several years ago. I have been in and out of therapy my entire life for treatment of anxiety and depression and thus far no one has shown me how to survive it. I receive a diagnosis (always the same), some pills, and a band aid for the real issue at hand. After my bought with attempting and failing to commit suicide, I bounced from Lawrence and Memorial’s IOP program almost immediately over to Sound Community. It was there I can honestly say I found a part of myself. My path may never be clear and life will never be easy for me but knowing that I have a program to fall back on, support that will always be there and tools in a tool box to carry with me in a binder that is two inches wide, I feel I can get on my feet and try to move past some of the anguish and pain. Diane is one of the best therapists I have ever encountered. She saved me, when no one else noticed how deeply I was drowning. Her words resonate in my mind when things start to seem worse than they did the day before and I feel a relapse into my depression. She taught me that I am Amber; I am not my mental illness. She taught me that I am blessed to have the ability, whether I like it or not, to look inside myself and delve deep into Amber to learn her ins and outs in a way that “mainstream” folds will never get o, or will never have to. For this I know I will always be different than others, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe I will know how to voice what I need when I need it instead of struggling to find the works and needs to satisfy what I am feeling. Since I graduated from IOP I have not been the same person. Although I would not say I am “better”, I would say I am stronger. I have a better sense of myself and what I need to do to be successful. I know that I need to keep going, if not for me than for those around me. I won’t give up, I can’t. There are many mornings I wake up sad just at the thought that I have woken up to face yet another day, but I hear Diane’s voice and remember to breathe, meditate and go back to my tool box so that I can get up and have a productive day, even if that means just brushing my teeth and showering. Thanks to Sound Community, I finally feel like I have learned to live again. One day at a time, one minute to the next, counting each breath. Thank you for providing our community with this wonderful program.






Sincerely,






Amber”



So please take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the excellence around you!



Be well!



Gail

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