by Chattrelle Gillyard
Often when we go to the doctor we wait, we wait for our name to be called, we wait to be serviced, we wait for the doctor, we
wait for the next steps. We Wait!
Many times our guests here at the OAC wait, they wait outside to be put on the service list, they wait in our lobby for their
name to be called, they wait to tell us their story, they wait for their documents to come back, they wait to check their mail, and they wait for their next steps towards stability.
When we go to the doctor we usually wait in a lobby, there’s usually a tv or magazine or something to keep us entertained during our waiting time. Sometimes we talk to others, engage in interesting conversations, meet new people and tell our stories. It may be a story of why we are there, a life story, or simply a story about our day. But the waiting room always seems to be a place to share stories.
The lobby at the OAC is different, there’s no TV, not really a lot of magazines to hold your attention, just others in similar situations who are waiting. Many times, natural conversations happen, guests inform each other on where to get something to eat, where to take a shower, even how to get a place to sleep for the night. Most of the time stories are shared, stories of struggle, stories of triumph, stories of victory, stories of loss, and stories of trauma. The waiting room at the OAC is a place of comfort, care, and conversations. The waiting room is a place of peace, a place to sleep, a place to rest. The waiting room is a place of hope, a place of help, a place to feel at home. The waiting room is a place to freely and safely share your story, while you wait.