This morning I went to the treatment center where I will be doing my practicum. At the end I was standing in the middle of a very busy control center while the human resources recruiter gave me instructions for follow up. I had to admit to her that I was having a sensory processing delay and anxiety ask her to repeat what she said. I stood in the hallway in front of the doorway to the intake desk talking to a friend who works there. As I was listening to him my attention was drawn to a very haggard looking fellow and a person who looked like his father. They were both dressed like they worked on a farm and one guy had a very ragged looking duffel bag. I realized that this was a checking checking in. I felt drawn to speak to him but my attention turned back to my friend.

After leaving, I kept remembering the look on the face of the guy checking in. I think we connected in our sense of anxiety but his was much more acute. I could feel his pain and anxiety. I could sense his ambivalent drives as his motives pulled him in different directions. I was drawn to greet him and express a sense of hope. I remembered my feelings when I was in his place. I thought about what I might have said to him. I do not ever want to miss an opportunity like that again to say "welcome to your recovery, this is where the best days of your life begin."