One of my youth told me she quit smoking last week. I asked her why and she said she and her partner said they would do it together. She also thought about our conversation as to what was more important to her a cell phone or cigarettes.

She took the conversation home and her dad helped her purchase a cell phone so long as she quit smoking.

My effort to start a smoking cessation class may have failed. However, so long as just one person listened and decided to quit that makes it all worth it in the end.

When I worked at Urban Peak Colorado Springs I came across a 15 year old youth who came out to his parents for being gay. His family did not accept him and was kicked out of his home.

Before the incident with his parents he was a straight A student and excelled in many things. He was funny, quick and witty, and a very nice person. When he entered the shelter he continued going to school but his grades dropped. He became depressed and was easily upset. He his humor and wit remained intact but he also picked up a drug habit. He started dating a horrible guy who was also mixed up with drugs. If I remember correctly his drug of choice was heroin.

I always thought if only his parents would have just accepted him for who he was he wouldn’t be in this mess. He wouldn’t be depressed.  He wouldn’t be mixed up in drugs or with this guy who brought him down.  

I couldn’t think of that thought and had work with him on the hand he was dealt.

He eventually turned things around. He broke up with the guy who brought him down, he kicked his drug habit, and he did well in school and got a job. Eventually he moved to New York for a better life. I saw him again about a year ago. He had fallen back into his addiction with substances. He quickly sought out help.

To this day he still has challenges he needs to face, but is working on him. I think thank goodness we were there for him.