The Coalition for Community Living Blog

         After experiencing months of homelessness, I entered the Lodge looking for a roof over my head and a job. What I found was like-minded people.

         I don't mean like-minded in the sense that we all had a mental illness; in many ways, our illnesses were as different as night and day. Viva 'le Difference. But the thing we had in common was that we were missing something in our lives, the thing that we all need – structure! Thank God for the structure of the Fairweather Lodge. We needed it, we bought into it, and working for the common good of the Lodge turned out to be in our own, individual, best interests.

         It was an awakening not to always have things go my way and do things that went against my self-interest at times. But I realized I was part of something bigger than me, and that was exciting. I think this was true for the others as well.

         Grandiosity usually factors in when having a mental illness, and having something bigger than yourself is stabilizing. I was grateful that everything wasn't up to me, that we shared the duties. We also shared in the benefits, and that made it an enriching experience that has stayed with me.