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Picture yourself walking down Everett Street and seeing all the beauty it has to offer. You find yourself enjoying the smiling faces of locals and those just visiting. It’s a beautiful sight. For those who turn a blind eye or refuse to see what factor is becoming more of a conflict for every resident in our area this is the image their eyes absorb.
Consider now, if for one moment, you find yourself looking down to see trash and a needle just off the curb. It’s almost like you are in another world. Unfortunately, you are not. You are on the street that so many walk every day, in your town: you are in your very own backyard.
We at RENEW hope to see it differently. Rather than disregard the fact that there are many issues with substance abuse, we envision making a difference in our own back yard by vocalizing with education, prevention techniques and awareness.
Visualize, for just a moment, that a person you know lost their life because of something that no one would stand up and fight against. There is no need to worry about all that now, they’re still with us, right? Wrong. Anyone who is a victim, user, a family member or a bystander is not living a life full of the possibilities which were intended. So, are they really with us? Anyone can be affected by substance abuse but the road it takes them is not like any road in our beautiful mountains; it’s a road that may not warn of a U-turn or provide a stop sign.
Love thy neighbor, it is easier said than done. Yet, we all know someone who is struggling with mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, the law or all the above. But what are “we” doing about it? When does the change begin? We think it starts now, one person at a time.
It can be easy to walk through the grocery store and ask, “how are you?” but it isn’t as easy to really ask, “how are you?” for someone you know that needs a precious moment of compassion, awareness or acknowledgment. Many that struggle with these issues share a common denominator: alcohol and other drugs. You can preach to the choir, but they can’t hear it sing. You can shake a stranger’s hand and not know where that persons been. What you can do is ask yourself what part of this fraction you seek to be. If someone can be influenced to try drugs, can they also be influenced to seek treatment? Can they not be shown what or who they can still become? We believe the possibilities are endless and want to bring awareness to these issues, make a transformation to our backyard and save lives. It isn’t always easy taking the high road, yet we all drive on one every day. It isn’t easy to say no, yet we do it daily. It isn’t easy to ask for help, yet there are people who can.
We consider the common denominator a factor we want to make uncommon. Love thy neighbor; easier to think about when lives are at risk and more concerning as you read this and a name that speaks volumes on this topic is consistently stirring through your brain. It is not a perfect world, there is not a perfect scenario and there is no perfect person. But we believe there is a perfect solution. Accepting there are problems and aggreging to take paths to change them is a perfect start. The perfect ending toward our journey, is saving a life. A life that someone can later look back on and see happiness not weakness, laughter not tears and feel as though they were not a lost cause because they found faith. Faith in our project, faith in themselves or faith that there can be an end to all their suffering is only the beginning. We all have dreams, why can we not allow each person to achieve them by simply asking “How are you?” and meaning it? These are all questions we must ask ourselves. Where do you see Everett Street and your backyard in 20 years? At this rate, there may not be that many here to see.
Help us achieve our dreams of helping those suffering and ask us how you can help. Simply ask yourself in the mirror “how are you?” If your reflection shows you a positive light, use that faith to help us become more uncommon, help us change the face of our neighbors and help us help others. The less common we are the more beautiful we can become. Faith isn’t something you can just wake up and have. Faith is something you seek. Some find it, others ignore it and many in our area preach it. But having faith in becoming less common is what will lead to a less common denominator. If you can’t heal what hurts you, you will only bleed on those that never cut you. We as a community are hurting and we are past the point of using a band-aid or even stiches. We can only create change by having faith that positive thinking will create positive outcomes. The one fact remains; someone you pass by today needs to really be asked, “How are You?” Be less common and love thy neighbor.
Any effort by any courageous person can make a difference…
If you would like to become a volunteer or provide help to those in need, donations and time are greatly appreciated. You must ask yourself if you can make a difference, because it all starts with one person on either side of this problematic issue to create a solution and RENEW Bryson City.
