Grex Inferno Conference

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Grex Inferno Item 10: The positive comments that make all the difference.
Entered by jaklumen on Sun Jun 29 07:29:09 UTC 2003:

I was helping my folks clear out some stuff from the guest room that 
had belonged to me once upon a time-- things that were mine, and I 
found a memento I thought I'd lost.

It was a bunch of positive thoughts and comments from a group I'd 
attended in high school over 10 years ago.  We were going through 
Natural Helper training (I'm not sure if the Natural Helper program 
still exists, but anyway) and had taken some time to write things 
about each other.  I didn't understand at the time why I'd gone; the 
program in middle school was based on peer selection and we had been 
chosen by teachers, chosen because they thought we'd be a 'good 
example,' they said.  Looking back, I could see we were likely thought 
of as high risk, although I thought we were probably a good cross-
section somewhat: band members, choir students, athletes, etc.

It wasn't the first time that I felt like a fish out of water as some 
had drug and alcohol problems, and I didn't, but I don't know why I 
didn't take to heart more what I learned there-- the 12 steps, that 
is.  I learned them for the first time.

Aside from the serious issues here, I wanted to point out that 
positive things said have that much of an impact.  I will probably 
that sheet of green butcher paper for a long time to come, to remember 
where I've been, and where I have to go.  It is good to remember that 
I made some sort of a difference, and it is a memory I want to keep if 
I want to continue such things for the future.

2 responses total.

#1 of 2 by twenex on Sun Mar 14 00:28:27 2004:

I remember seeing a report not so long ago about a GI in Iraq who would have
died from his injuries in any other war, but because of medical advances,
survived (I think he nearly lost an arm, or something).

Now, for anyone who doesn't know, I am a Brit.

Anyway, in the course of the interview he said. "My wife is proud of me for
what I do; my kids are proud of me for what I do..."

And then he said this:

"...I am proud of me for what I do."

I raised an eyebrow.

About 3 years ago there was an ad campaign for British Airways with an
American praising their service and listing hteir other accomplishments. The
airline's slogan is "The world's favourite airline". At the end of the advert
he says,

"So I guess you guys should be proud of all that. But that just wouldn't
be.... *British*, would it?"

#2 of 2 by jaklumen on Mon Mar 15 08:12:41 2004:

Pardon if I am dense... I reread several times what you wrote, but I'm 
not sure what you meant there.  Clarify a bit?

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