As many of you may remember, I recently went back to working
a real job. It’s only part-time, but it is brain-demanding. I find it a
struggle to devote my attention to something that simply provides me an income.
To top it off, my Immortal Alcoholic in-box continues to bulge over with more
and more requests for help. I often spend three hours a day just on answering
e-mails and I would spend more if I had the time available. How can I focus on
my paying job when what I really want to do is help others who find them in my
situation?
My journey has taken me down many different paths along my walk
of life. I tried to count how many “careers” I've had. I've been an apricot
cutter, baby-sitter, mother, receptionist, waitress, marketing assistant, sales
administrator, executive assistant, word processing manager, liaison,
administration manager, reporter, event planner, author, and title examiner. The
longest time I've spent at any one thing was 15 years. Considering that I
started working at the ripe old age of 14 that means I've been in the workforce
for 50 years. So my longest tenure is just a drop in the bucket. Looks like I've been a bit of a “job jumper.” But, in the grand scheme of things, that’s OK
because I believe I can use all my past experience to embark on my next career
adventure.
I have always said that I wished I could actually make money
at writing this blog or by having the support groups. The reality is I can’t
make money at doing those things. Any money I receive through donations goes
directly to supporting the OARS Group and helping it grow into a non-profit
organization. I have grand visions of OARS becoming the next Al-Anon. Wouldn't that be great? A non-12-step alternative for friends and families of alcoholics
just gives me a smile too large for my face. It’s one of the reasons I went
back to work after retiring. I needed the money to support my dreams.
I've become gung-ho about getting the OARS meeting up and
running as live, face-to-face group meetings. To do that, I contacted the local
substance abuse facility and asked for their support. They were interested and
asked if I was a peer support coach. They gave me some phone numbers and names
of people that were “in the biz.” Over the next few days, I googled, phoned,
talked, and reached out to anyone who might give me ideas or help me get
started.
Recovery Innovations hires peer coaches for the purpose of
providing support to addicted persons by recovering addicts. They also have a
training program for people interested in coaching. The big “but” was that it
was not for friends or family – just substance abuse addicts. The criterion for
their program was set out by North Carolina’s Health and Human Services Department
and they did not have anything in place for collaterally damaged people. My
contact encouraged me to rattle the chain of that government entity and bring
attention to the need.
(If you are an addicted person and the idea of a peer support coach is appealing to you, go this website:
www.recoveryinnovations.com.)
I asked the contact if I need to be certified before I could
start offering my services as a peer support coach. The response was that I had
already been doing coaching for several years simply by extending my hand of
support to others through my blog, e-mail and support group formations. I just
wasn’t being paid to do it. He knew of no reason why I couldn't become an
official peer coach without any certification. Besides, there’s no certification
offered in our state and therefore the job doesn't exist. If I issue a disclaimer about
not being a professional counselor or therapist, in his opinion, that was all I
needed.
My next stop was the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration) site which is a part of the federal government’s
Health and Human Services Department. I found a grant for the creation of
peer-to-peer support. I thought this must be a divine sign that I was on the
right path. I called the contacts and after many attempts (it is the FEDERAL government,
after all) I finally reached someone who told me that she didn't think the
intent of the Grant was for anyone other than the addicted. However, she told
me that I should apply, but I would have to be a non-profit organization in
order for the application to be accepted.
However, she again, encouraged me to apply. Nothing worth having is ever
easy.
Well, I would like that $250,000 grant to set up the OARS
Group, but I must take those baby steps. I believe I've already taken a few of
them. This month I will file for non-profit status in the State of North
Carolina for the OARS Group. If I can get it done quickly, I can apply for the
federal grant.
While I’m doing that, I will officially hang out my shingle
as a Peer Support Coach. I have a website that I have neglected for a while (I
apologize to everyone who has been there) and is now being re-vamped and
renewed. It will have my rates and how to schedule an appointment to meet with
me via the telephone or Skype or Instant Messaging. When I am ready for
clients, I’ll post it on the blog with a link to the website. If I can make
enough money at doing that, I can quit my day job and focus on doing what my
heart is telling is the right thing to do.
As part of the coaching, I have a plan to start offering
myself as a public speaker. I’m not exactly sure how to do this, but I've been
told in the past that being a speaker is the most profitable way to go. Talking
to an audience is not frightful for me and I’m looking forward to the
opportunity.
I wish I could win the lottery and not have to worry about
paying rent or buying little things like food and electricity. The reality is I
haven’t found the winning ticket yet – I guess I have to buy a ticket before I
can win which is something I only seldom do. Anyway, if I did have that ticket,
I would be able to devote my time, money and efforts solely on supporting
people who have walked in my shoes. Unfortunately, the reality is that I MUST pay the rent, buy food and electricity and that takes both time and money.
