Chronic Illness

Everybody plays the fool. There's no exception to the rule. "The Main Ingredient" turned that century old adage into a hit in 1972, and I suspect that I won't be the last person to reference that song. Although they were lamenting affairs of the heart, the chorus applies to so many other situations in life. I often find myself playing the fool, and it's not a good feeling when I get burned. Unfortunately, my mom taught me to give without expecting something in return.

The society we live in has two types of people, givers and takers. Often times, the takers take advantage of the givers because it's how they're programmed. Givers are often slow to learn a lesson because they aren't configured to be selfish. Along those lines, I was lead to start my professional career as a Youth Counselor because I was taught that helping others is the right thing to do. After all, more than a few adults helped me back in the day and I wanted to pay it forward.

I am now nine years out of college and continue to work in a "helping profession" even though more than a handful of young folks I've helped in the past have never said thank you or shown any sign of gratitude. If getting burned left scars, people wouldn't recognize me anymore. The best example of this occurred last year during an Open House on campus where I met a prospective student who needed some extra help.
Diego was an aspiring new student who had just been released from a drug rehabilitation clinic after he was declared sober. He was so thankful for the help of his counselors that he decided to attend our Open House to begin the path of pursuing a Human Services degree. The downside of Diego's situation, aside from the past addiction, was that he lacked some very critical skills (like how to use a computer or type) that college students need to be successful. Despite that, Diego expressed a seemingly strong desire to do what was necessary to earn a degree and help other recovering addicts.

I felt like he was being sincere. During the Open House I devoted all my attention to making sure he got started on the right foot with us. I took it a step further and gave him my cell phone number when the night was over so that we could stay in touch. A few days later Diego came back to campus to look for a person I had suggested he meet with. He was on the path to enrolling at the college. Soon thereafter, on a random Saturday afternoon, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. I picked up the phone and Diego was on the other end.

Me: Hello?
Diego: Hey man, it's me. Remember me from that Open House. You helped me out big time. Remember?
Me: Of course! What's up, man?
Diego: Thank you so much you don't even understand how much that meant. 
Me: No problem. I'm just doing my job. 
Diego: I hate to do this, and I swear I'll pay you back. My mom is real sick. I'm trying to take the bus out to Springfield to see her and I don't have the money.
Me: (thinking, oh boy) How much do you need?
Diego: Listen. I swear to you that I'll pay it back. I have an interview coming up at McDonald's on Main Street and I'll be able to pay you back.

(To be continued....)