I finally saw the Won’t you be my Neighbor? movie (the most successful biopic in film history) about Fred Rogers. I highly recommend it because the world so needs his message right now. And apparently many individuals do too.
As the film ended and the theater went silent, I heard one woman burst into sobs and I noticed a few of the men sniffing back tears as they made a beeline for the door.
One of the most touching scenes was near the end where an aging Fred had been invited to address the Twin Towers tragedy. He resisted at first because it was just too big, too overwhelming, he didn’t know if he could offer anything. But what little he did say was poignant and simple.
He spoke of Tikkun Olam, the Jewish belief that we are called to be “repairers of creation.” Then Fred repeated something his mother said to him about the worst of times when he was just a boy:
“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
And then he added,
“To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”
When I think of a calling to heal the brokenness of the world, my mind goes immediately to Recovery. Why? Because I believe that healing the world, the repairing of creation has to happen one individual at a time. It starts on the inside, at the very roots of our being, and works its way up and out. And I don’t know any other group of wildly diverse, intelligent, sensitive, intuitive, creative, remarkable individuals that exemplify Tikkun Olam more than those in the Recovery community.
First of all, they are recognizing and going about the work of healing their own brokenness, their own wounds. But once they are back on their feet again, they tend to be among the most passionate advocates for overall health and well being on the planet.
Some of them roll up their sleeves and get busy as activists. Some stay closely involved with the recovery movement and give their time and care to those who are struggling. Some get busy healing their marriages and families and relationships by bringing hard-won patience and kindness and wisdom to daily situations. They know what it is to be healthy in mind, emotion, body and soul. Some becomes leaders in specific areas of health/recovery and self-actualization like nutrition, yoga, EFT, meditation, body positive awareness, trauma healing, and dealing with depression or mental illnesses or codependency. A few branch out into spiritual work or body work, teaching others self-care and self-love and how to stop their own repetitive thoughts from driving them into darkness or despair–how to accept and live in reality with serenity.
So today I am grateful for you, each and every one of you, and for our brotherhood and sisterhood around the planet, for our constantly growing and evolving movement. I am grateful to have another day of life to spend in joyful sobriety.
Are you with me? Holler a big YES! and let’s rock this thing!
Shalom (it only seemed fitting),
A post about healing and recovery by Maggy
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This post is by MaggyD , the author of the blog Maggy Doodles and an active member of BOOM the private, anonymous community inside the Boozemusings website.
More From The Boozemusings Community Blog :
Related posts from Inside the BOOM Community :
Walking Toward Sobrenity – or thoughts on Sober Momentum
What is Recovery? Are you ready to Stop Drinking? Thoughts from the BOOM Community
“I must go forward where I have never been instead of backwards where I have”.
Winnie the Pooh
One response to “Tikkun Olam – Healing the World Begins with Each of Us”
[…] sobriety has been managed, color returns to life. On Boom, we have a daily opportunity to post what we’re grateful for. We may not feel grateful, but we know we are, and the feelings of contentment catch up. I get why […]