by Shania Barker
Stability is often taken for granted in life until it is no longer there. The feeling of uncertainty that comes with instability can be overwhelming and all-consuming, leaving many, including myself, to forget that, like many things, gaining stability
is not universal or straightforward.
The journey towards stability is a personal and collective endeavor that requires compassion, empathy, and mindfulness. This is something I have both experienced and observed while at Central OAC. When I first began volunteering at Central OAC I was experiencing a time of loss and uncertainty. Although I had started this path of recovery, I felt as if my personal and professional livelihood had failed. These feelings made my work at Central OAC feel sanctimonious and hypocritical at times. “How could I advocate for someone’s bare necessities, such as safe, stable housing, when I was experiencing so much instability?“
It was not until I began to mindfully and wholly engage with the guests that I realized our stories were parallel to one another. The same empathy, patience, and community that the people I saw needed was what I had been looking for in my life. In a way, the guests became a form of accountability for me.
Each individual defines what their stability looks like. It’s not prescribed or shared, as everyone has their own wants and needs. One thing that is a constant, however, is how we achieve stability and how it is fostered every day. I appreciate the openness I have learned at Central OAC and hope to continue to watch our guests grow and move into sustainable lifestyles.