One Kind Gesture Can Change A Life

This gorgeous flower is growing at the side of my house. It instantly reminded me of the conversation I had with the guys from the National Ambulance Service when I was in Cork recently……

Ambulance personnel frequently come in contact with people who are caught up in addiction and I was genuinely moved to listen to how they viewed their ‘frequent service users’. It was evident that they really cared about their regular patients and although not part of their core training, they wholly accepted that these people were coming from a place of trauma. This understanding of the link between trauma and addiction dictates how they work with addicts and that is with kindness, compassion and empathy. I told them that as an addict myself many years ago this was sadly not always my experience. Ken asked me ‘would it have made a difference to when I asked for help? Would I have reached out sooner?’ Instantly my response was’YES!’

My first day of recovery began when a doctor told me that my life was worth saving and that I deserved a chance to be more. In addiction we live in alignment with who we believe we are and i believed that I was of no value, not worthy of care and attention but one simple expression of empathy and respect changed my life. Dr. Raymond Kerr planted a seed by telling me that I was worthy and a very small part of me believed him. My journey changed with that one and only meeting with that beautiful man. The tiniest of seeds can grow in the harshest of environments and can produce a flower that attracts and encourages other flowers to bloom around it. That’s my recovery and I’m so very proud and so very grateful for it!

Cathy Murphy #arylenetrauma #innovativeinterventionsireland #trauma #addiction #recovery