This is my third day at Emmaus and I’m settling in really well. Everyone I’ve met so far has been amazing and made me feel really comfortable. I’m looking forward to moving around all different areas within the community and learning a whole bunch of new skills.
I’ve been in the kitchen today and tomorrow I’ll be in the Boutique – part of my induction schedule. I’m being placed everywhere to see where I’m most comfortable and can best utilise my skills.
My journey to Emmaus
I first heard about Emmaus upon leaving an addiction recovery residential treatment centre. I’ve struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for a number of years. I was a late starter when it came to drinking and drugs; I was dead against it growing up, but as the saying goes “if you sit long enough in the barber’s shop, you’re going to get a haircut.” I put myself in the wrong situations all the time as I struggle with boredom and loneliness and have anxiety and depression as well.
Being in a rural location is perfect because I find that when I’m in a town or a city I don’t need asking twice from my friends to go and meet them in the pub.
Upon leaving the treatment centre, I became homeless. All my family live in Ireland so I found myself sofa surfing as well as sleeping on the streets certain nights as well: in a park, in a field, in a car park. I had the odd night in a hotel, but I was here, there and everywhere. I had absolutely no stability and no hope really. I started the process to join Emmaus about a month ago. The manager of the treatment centre that I was in told me about Emmaus upon leaving. I’d gone to stay with a friend but it was clear from the beginning that things weren’t going to work out. I remembered the details I’d been given for Emmaus and I phoned up and they told me about the referral form I had to fill in. Then someone contacted me at a later date, carried out a phone assessment and told me a bit about the community. I was then invited to a face-to-face assessment two weeks after that and that was only a week ago, last Wednesday – I moved in on Monday.
A good move
From what I’ve seen so far, I feel really blessed to be given this opportunity, one I intend to grasp with both hands. It’s been really stressful, especially the past month. I also lost my dad a few months ago which absolutely crushed me, and my mum’s really struggling. My parents moved over to Ireland in 2010 when I was happily settled in a relationship and had my own job and everything. Unfortunately that relationship didn’t work out and I’ve found myself stuck in the same pattern over the last 10 years; living in HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), agency work, the occasional permanent job and short-term relationships. I’m desperate to break that curse and I’m hoping Emmaus will put me in good stead to do just that.
I had my first session with Geraldine, the addiction recovery worker, yesterday and we both agreed it went really well. I was completely honest about everything that I was asked and it was a good starter session. I’m looking forward to continuing that treatment with Geraldine. I haven’t had a drink for nearly two weeks and I’m not even craving one because I’m out of the way here and there are things to keep me busy.
In a good place
I’m really glad of my new surroundings. I’m looking forward to the better weather and getting out in the country parks and bike rides and stuff. I definitely don’t miss living in the town!
I have a good variety of skills I’d like to bring to Emmaus, things I’m familiar with and I can’t wait to put my hand to. I’m a real people-person and I’m good with the public, I’m quite handy with tools as well, so I’ve some skills to bring. I can’t wait to learn some new skills too.
I do feel like I’m in a good place, I feel like it’s a very good move for me – coming out to a rural location and sort of starting again, almost like a factory reset for me! Just getting some stability which I’ve not had for a number of years gives me a feeling of purpose, it’s not just take, take, take. I feel blessed to have a roof over my head and food in my belly, but I’m also contributing to that and it feels really nice.
I just want time to properly rebuild myself – there is no time limit here – and just go with the flow and take one day at a time and take each day as it comes.