Giving Thanks

Due to the fact that two young men that I worked with 20 years ago made the effort to seek me out to say thanks I thought that it was time to post my own story. So after a year's absence here is a new blog addition:

35 years ago, when I was in a troubled stage of life, and was on parole my parole office worked very hard to set me on the right path. During or final meeting he asked me what I really wanted to do wih my life. angferly I resonded tha "It really didn't matter what I might want, the things that I wanted were impossible." Jim (not his real name), in his gentle way began to challenge me.

"What is it that you want?

Resonding with more anger than sense I said, that, "I wanted to do what he was doing, helping troubled youth to get on track."

"What prevents you from achieving this lofty goal."

"My own lack of education. I only have a grade eight and I know that I would need a degree in something to qualify as a probation/parole office. so what is the use?"

Again in that gentle way, Jim asked me what I needed to do in order to get the necessary education.

"I guess I would have to go back to school, and get a high school diploma"

"And what would you have to do today to get that high school diploma?"

"I guess," I spat out, "I would have to go back to school."

"Then get out and go."

I stormed out of his office, indignant and angry. "Who was he, and what did he know?" What I didn't realize was that he started something in me, that would lead to a return to school, and eventualy to a Dogwood, a pretty mean feat for a young man in his twenties, fresh out of jail, who didn't believe that it could be done. I only wanted to prove Jim wrong. Today I hold a Master's Degree from the most prestigious grad school in North America, and while I was pursueing my degree, I realized that I had never said thanks to Jim for his effort on my behalf. I began a diligent search for him beginning at the parole office where we had that omminous conversation. What I found was that he had retired, and was no longer living in the Vancouver area. I managed to track him to Prince George and then the trail grew cold. Jim was no where to be found, and I was left without the ability to say thank you.

In relating his story to a local newspaper man, I was suddenly set back when he said, "How many troubled youth have you served in the days gone by?"

I stopped the interview to count, and of the many troubled youth in my life the two who have recently contacted me to say thanks, came into view.

"You see," the reporter said, "You have said thanks many times over. With every youth whose life you helped to change the thanks giving has rang out, and I am sure that Jim has heard."

You can find the whole story in the North Island Gazette "Midweek." Still it is good to hear that your life has impacted at least one other. A special thanks to Eddie and Bruce for taking the time and making the effort to say thanks, and I know that they are repeating the process.

What is it that you need to do today to set into play the great and lofty goals of your life? My advise is the same as that offered to me 35 years ago, "Get out and go." In Morita Therapy, the field of my chosen endeavors, the advise is simple as it is profound, "Do what needs to be done."