This weekends Region Recovery Riot

The Gary Harm Reduction hosted their annual event again this year at the Gary Aquatorium. This was my first year contributing and attending. I was not really sure what I was getting into..but, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Harm Reduction can be controversial to say the least..but as a mother who lost a child to fentanyl, I don’t have room for soft stepping when it comes to this subject.

As the date got closer, my nerves were definitely a bit frazzled. I was going to be leading the Yoga and Sound Bath part of this experience. I asked my friend Shea to help out and lead the Yoga portion for me and I would take the guided meditation and sound bath. I was not sure how I would feel emotionally. I set up my area bringing all of my bowls as well as a few key Koshi chimes from Ohm Yoga Studio (supportive friends) and got to business arranging. I brought a picture of my son Presley to look at and share with anyone who was interested in looking at his beautiful and missed face. As it got closer to the time to start my nerves fell away and I realized just as had been the case this past year…the people I now call friends were there to take in whatever it was that I had to give to them.

In a world so full of judgement and comparison, sometimes its hard to step into something new or in my case, something I have not done since my sons passing. But, true to the entire reason this event was created, they opened their heart and received what we had to give without judgement.

And this is exactly the love and acceptance that I have watched the leaders and community builders do with every single person that they have come across that is challenged with addiction, mental health, housing and so on. No judgement, no obligation to meet what they think is “the right way”. Instead just love and acceptance. To see National Organizations as well as Organization from all of Indiana come together was inspiring. Addiction is not going anywhere. We are in the thick of it. And we have to truly meet people where they are at.

If you or anyone you know is struggling, please know you are not alone and there are resources out there to help.

Gary Harm Reduction - 219-200-4081