“Stepping Stones.” To what? To a life of purpose and fulfillment, free from addiction. In 2016, I offered to volunteer at Pathways for Change, an amazing place where men and women can get their lives on a healthy, meaningful track. I wrote down a ‘shopping list’ of topics for them to choose from – and Pat and Jackie, the program developers, chose them all! Specifically, I work with women in “Stepping Stones.” These are women who have had run-ins with the court system or Department of Children and Families, problems with addiction (whether drugs or alcohol), and their children are mostly in foster care. Over five weeks, I covered ten topics (e.g., Everyday Courage, Trust, Change, Hope, Happiness) in two and one-half hour sessions. They met separately with their mentors.
This year, Pat and Jackie decided on a ten-week program, covering one topic each week for about ninety minutes. I suggested they have both mentors and mentees attend together as that would provide bonding and common ground. They accepted, and we have met twice now. My, what an amazing adventure this has been! That first week, as I later told Pat, had “a little bit of magic” in it. A special feeling developed quickly among the dozen women. At the end of our deep, revealing, honest discussions, I looked around and said, “Isn’t it amazing how little we know about someone until we really talk with each other?” Although one of the women had prepared activities for after I left, they told me that they just sat around, continuing to share. We had already created a foundation they could build on.
In this group, there is no us/them, mentor/mentee mentality; we are all imperfect women trying to cope with our problems and live better, more purposeful lives. One step at a time. Stepping Stones to Life.
by Kathleen Vestal Logan, MS, MA February 12, 2018