It is absolutely the most gratifying work I have ever done!
More than 15 years ago, I was introduced to women in recovery at Amethyst and began volunteering. The women touched me greatly; they were fragile. It was my first introduction to women with substance abuse issues. What I learned was compelling and very sad. The more I listened and interacted with them, the more potential I saw, no doubt more than they saw in themselves.
My connection was simple. I liked these women and felt guilty society had overlooked them growing up. I consequently became determined to be helpful in their recovery. Combining my professional writing career, social work degree and the insights I had gained while volunteering at Amethyst, I was motivated to produce units of study that might help them look deeper inside of themselves and recognize that they could find an easier and more fulfilling life.
Even though the women were slightly resistant or shy about exposing themselves to the class, they quickly outgrew their hesitancy and read their works aloud. Whether writing about “Becoming a Woman with a Voice” or “Being a Part of Healthy Relationship,” these ladies produced thoughtful, amazing, beautiful, sad and hopeful pieces. Writing about the lifestyle they were raised in - surrounded by drugs, abuse, rape and living on the street - was not easy.
Tears were spilled, whole hearted support was given by others, and as a mother and grandmother, I gave good old fashioned encouragement and pats on the back.
Eventually they took pride in reading what they had created and filled two books with letters, memories, revelations and dreams. They began to envision an alternative lifestyle to the one they were raised in. Few had seen little else in their formative years. It was the only world they knew or were a part of.
It is moving to watch such meaningful and constructive progress, to see women acknowledge a greater sense of self-worth, to dare to dream and to embrace the potential for a sober, safe live for themselves and their children. Natalie wrote a piece about her baby son and read it to her judge during a custody hearing. Other women turned their writing into speeches which they delivered to interested local organizations. Once 10 women took what they had written about overdoses and verbally presented them to the mayor of Columbus in his office.
I love exposing our Amethyst women to new things and other ways of expressing themselves. Going to the Columbus Museum of Art expands their intellect and horizons, plus encourages a new way of expressing themselves. As a group we made sunflowers as an act of gratitude like Vincent Van Gogh did. To help others view their lives we designed shoes and wrote about what they might feel like if they walked in these shoes.
Expressing oneself in writing and art is an exploration that builds self-esteem. One must be believe they are worthy of success and reaching new pinnacles of self-realization. To bear witness at their graduation after months or years of struggle to reach a place where they have jobs, custody of their children and control over their drug-free lives is my true privilege.
I invite you to take the journey that I have been on with these women by reading their eloquently, emotional and meaningful printed words in their books, Letter from Recovery and Memories, Revelations and Dreams both published by Alvis.
Written by Rosanne Rosen, Amethyst Creative Writing Specialist at Alvis