Tag Archives: success

A Success Story…

2 Replies

A success story…Social Workers don’t always get to hear what happens next.

Recently I was walking into an apartment office to discuss one of my clients with the manager. A woman stepped out of the office and immediately said I looked familiar to her. We talked for a minute and figured out she lived in the homeless shelter at the same time I was doing my internship.

She told me she remembered that I helped her figure out her credit score and what she needed to do to improve things.

She was excited to announce that she left the shelter 6 years ago and has lived continuously in an apartment ever since.

I think many of us assume there is no hope for people on the street. We believe they have chosen a life of drugs, alcohol, or laziness. Because we don’t always see the positive outcomes…we assume they don’t happen. When our group serves the homeless we hear lots of hopeful stories of getting a job, having an apartment or getting back in touch with family. We rarely get to see those things actually happen.

I have no doubt it took a lot of commitment and hard work for this lady to stabilize her life and maintain a life with shelter, consistency and security. I am so very happy I had the opportunity to hear her story of success.

Reaching My Goals…

2 Replies

Typically I listen to NPR (National Public Radio) when I’m working out. Wednesday I went to the gym, tapped on my NPR app. and opened up the TED Radio Hour. The first show listed was “Champions” I selected it with no preconceived ideas. However, this show was exactly what I needed.

The first person they interviewed was Diana Nyad, the extreme distance swimmer. She is one of my heroes. They also interviewed Pam Reed, ultra marathoner and Amy Purdy, world class snowboarder that happens to have two prosthetic legs from the knees down.

Listening to the program I realized it wasn’t one comment, or a deep profound statement that I heard, it was the overall idea that we all have the ability to reach down deep in our souls and meet the goals we set for ourselves. Maybe it is from fear of failure, maybe its from shear determination. But whatever the reason, success is possible.

Tomorrow morning I will ride my first century ride…100 miles from Boston MA to Hyannis Port MA. I am excited, I am nervous and I am determined. This radio program played through my earbuds at the right time. It helped give me that little piece of encouragement to push myself a little farther and not to stop.

One of my coaches in Junior High use to say, “when you don’t think you can go any farther, go a little more!” Obviously that has stuck with me (that was 40 years ago!)Tomorrow this is a mantra I may need.

My friend Joanne from the blog My Life Lived Full, shared advice with me that she shared with her son before his massively long bicycle ride….”it’s not a question of whether or not you will finish. You will finish.
The only question is how long will it take? … and how much will it hurt?

She is so right!

I am thankful for those that have encouraged me and supported me…even if they did not realize their words were helpful.
I am also thankful that I have an opportunity to expand my boundaries and reach just beyond any self imposed limits and become successful at reaching another goal.