About four years ago, our town wanted to bring in a SOS Recovery Center. A SOS Recovery Center helps to reduce the stigma and harm that is associated with substance abuse by providing support for people in all stages of recovery. The Center was getting both support and disapproval from downtown businesses because it was going to be located in our downtown area.
Being in the local Chamber of Commerce, I was invited to attend a meeting about the Center. The meeting was a place to discuss what the Center would do for the town, for the people that are struggling with addiction, and for local businesses.
After an overview, questions could be asked. Over and over again, people were concerned and as I listened, one could hardly blame them.
Then, a question came that would forever change the way I perceived addiction.
The question went something like this – When “these people” come to the center, are they a threat to themselves or others? When “these people” and then the person answering the questions, stopped the question and said, ” These people are your family. These people are your friends. These people are your neighbors. These people come in from ages 11 to 90. These people come from all backgrounds. These people come from all races. These people need our help.”
The room was suddenly silent.
Questions starting with “these people” was asked just one too many times and an answer that needed to be heard by everyone including myself was heard loud and clear.
At the end, more people were in support of the center than not.
The good news is that the Center has made a difference in our community. Statistics prove that less people are overdosing as a result of the work done at the center and numbers are going down with regards to addiction.
If I never went to that meeting, a new perspective on people struggling with addiction may never have happened.
It would have been easier to judge. It would have been easier to think that I had nothing to learn.
What I have personally learned is that just like the center having some disapproval, it would be a better idea to have as many facts as possible before jumping to a conclusion.
The same idea can be applied when shopping for insurance.
For myself, it’s important to listen to concerns.
It’s important to provide facts.
It’s important to see each person as a unique individual that has gifts to bring to the world.
It’s important to know that each person has family and friends.
They all have neighbors of all ages, backgrounds, and races.
They all have their share of crosses to bear.
We all have far more in common that we do differences.
We are all just striving to live day to day with our trials and doing our best to reach out for help.
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurance products and how they help families. Her goal with Balanced Care is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.