Monday 30 April 2012

True Courage

‎"Courage is not living without fear.  Courage is being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway."  ~ Chae Richardson

 
South Melbourne, Australia
Sometimes we drink too much; eat too much or don't eat enough; over shop and spend out of our means; watch too much television; exercise to the point of obsession; work too hard and sometimes we shut down and avoid emotions all together.       

Any habit we find difficult to control often acts as a bandaid to cover up underlying issues.  Once we face a problem and resolve it, the unhealthy habit naturally becomes easier to control and sometimes it completely falls away.  My visit to Odyssey House last week showed me that no one knows this better than their residents.  What’s important to understand about drug and alcohol abuse is that it’s only a symptom and what really needs treating is the cause. 



Courage is not measured by our ability to pretend everything is okay when we are struggling inside.  True courage is becoming aware of our issues, facing them and taking action.
That's what residents of Odyssey House are doing.  Unlike Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, they're not climbing out of windows trying to escape, they’re there because they want to get better: they had to earn their place there.  They work 9-5 and follow a disciplined routine making them accountable for their actions.  Not only are they working through issues such as those stemming from violence or sexual abuse, but they are conquering drug and alcohol abuse and all the while they’re not allowed to have sex or consume any stimulants.  No coffee to wake them up in the morning, not even a pain killer for a headache.  
To honour their hard work, for the Month of May I'll be totally stimulant free.  No chocolate, green tea or pain killers.  It’s really just a token compared to the mountains these guys are moving for themselves.  I raise my glass (of water) to the residents of Odyssey House “You guys are simply amazing!”.

For more about Odyssey House: http://www.odyssey.org.au/

If you would like to support the cause you can recommend this page below or donate here: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/sarah_walton_6

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