The Working Life on the Job: Library Worker

It's great that you've been able to learning and continuing in your education.  I myself am a firm believer that as someone in recovery, it is important to keep moving and learning.  Recently, I've become very frustrated with one of my friends.  Even though she is a capable and intelligent person, she chooses to live in the past of what-if's and comparisons with people without mental illness.  As a result, she never has any initiative to do or try anything new.  After five years of being her friend, I've given up on her for a lost cause.  My main problem is her unhealthy attitude of "I can't".  She has all kinds of excuses.  She be-moans the fact that she used to work as an administrative assistant and often seems to re-visit those days as to convince herself that her life is over and she doesn't need to try any further.  I believe that if a person keeps on trying and gets knocked down, he/she is better than someone who never dared try at all.  For all of you out there in recovery, keep going.  I certainly am.

Thank you Christina for sharing your life with us. Your light shines brightly.

As a child I would "help" mom in the kitchen. I was fascinated by the smells of herbs cooking in a sauce, roasts or chicken cooking. I loved the preparation it took to make a meal.

 At 17 at the Binghamton Psychiatric Center, after I was transferred to a transitional building, we were required to cook one supper meal a week. We had to plan it, walk to the grocery store,and then cook. That was my first time cooking for alot of people (about 8 of us). Around that time "they" were trying to find me a job. I did laundry for awhile. I was also a janitor. Both jobs I hated. Then I got the job that would determine how my life would go. I started work at the Community Store. The was the best job ever!

 You mentioned reinventiing yourself. I have been doing that through my speaking gigs. I get such a rush when someone comes up to me and tells me thanks and says I helped them. I told the vocational counselor at the state hospital that I wanted to be a peer counselor or a peer advocate. Helping people is wonderful. I often wonder if I missed my calling. Maybe I did years ago. Thankfully I found it now. 

Live, love, laugh, learn, listen,

David