Today a staff member let me know that a resident was celebrating 4 months in our program. She let me know this resident expressed how much it meant to her to be able to have this significant milestone. I remember this resident who at 3 months expressed to me that there wasn’t as much of a celebration or acknowledgement that she would have preferred. I asked the staff member what her favorite flowers were, and she said they were sunflowers. When I showed up with a bouquet of sunflowers her smile was from ear to ear. We had Chipotle for lunch and all of us sat around the kitchen laughing and talking.
It is so important to ask survivors what significant dates they are mindful of. Individuals will tell you a date of a loved one passing and they haven’t been sober on this day for the last 10 years. They will express that holidays are extremely difficult. They may mention their birthday and they have never had a party. As leaders when we make note of these details they express it can be significant in their experience within your organization. They may remember very little of the information they received in the classes we have them attend but they will never forget the way they felt when we make a big deal of what they consider a big deal.
