October 25, 2022 · Written By Cris Shinault

I was blessed to be a Girl Scout leader for several years and it prepared me for my job with HOPE, but not in the way you might think. We regularly completed a unit with the girls alongside the Wythe County troops called Walk-A-Mile in My Shoes. While it was mostly about people living with disabilities, it made us all realize that overcoming challenges may be easier for some and more difficult for others.

At HOPE, Inc. we have the opportunity to meet people at some of the lowest points in their lives and watch them bloom and succeed. The people we are blessed to meet and work with may be all alone in the world or have family and friends that are not able to help them thru a difficult time.

Photo from PEW Charitable Trusts

They are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and grandchildren that are facing a scary time in their lives. They could be at risk of loosing everything or have already lost everything. They may be just like a man who has been told he would never amount to anything and could do nothing right, so has given up trying.

Facing homelessness, he reaches out for help, something he swore he would never do, because the woman he loves and his children are losing or have already lost their home. He walks into our office feeling he has once again failed.

Sitting down working on a goal plan to move forward, his case worker tells him she believes in him, and she knows he has got this. He tries one more time to find a job.

He gets a job then finds a better one. He stumbles and fails taking a few steps backwards. His case manger says its okay, what is important is what he does moving forward.

He gets another job, and thru several promotions and a move, he buys a house and flourishes!

I was lucky enough to witness this beautiful transformation. These former clients stop by to update me occasionally and thank me, but it wasn’t me.

They did all the work. They chose to not let setbacks stop them. It all started with someone believing in them, giving them words of encouragement, and helping identify external resources and internal capacities.

Next time you see someone down on their luck that doesn’t look, act, smell, or dress like you, I ask that you see them as though they were a loved one or a cherished friend. Give them a smile or word of encouragement, buy them a coffee or meal.

It may not seem like it at the time, but you might just plant a seed that gives them courage to try one more time or lets them know that they are important, they do matter, and someone does care.

Walk-a-mile in their shoes and you may be surprised. It could not only change their life but change you as well.

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Originally published at Feathers of Hope on medium.com.