“I think this is a healing thing that you are doing.”
We set up the #Empathy Movement Tent yesterday, March 4. We’ll be there again Saturday, the 7th. Come by and build the Empathy Movement.http://facebook.com/events/550101135080912/
Lots of people come by and talked about and received empathy. A musician sat next to the tent and played music. Very pleasant.
A peak experience was a guy that teaches Improv Acting came by and we got a group together and did empathy and Improv exercises. See the photo.
A woman in her 50’s, who is a student in human services took part. She had some very touching comments afterwards about her healing experience at the tent. I recorded her comments. She talked about her previous negative experiences at the BART Plaza, which is a rather cold and uninviting space. She said,
“That was amazing, I am so happy I was here. And honestly this place normally feels bad for me and I have a hard time because it just triggers childhood memories. In the 80’s I was a teenager and would hangout here and I went to Berkeley High and I grew up here. Then it was really painful to have a daughter at 16 who was hanging out out here, because she was using drugs and alcohol with the addicts who are here. That was 2 or 3 years ago. And so normally when I come, it brings up a lot of feelings, and my daughter doesn’t even like coming back here.
We kind of avoid it, because I see the other young people that are still addicted here . That’s what we call street kids. I know for a fact that even if they aren’t using heroin or methamphetamine, they are drinking alcohol every day. That’s what’s happening for them, I know that because I’ve talked to a lot of the kids that have been out here.
This was healing for me to be here and meet you and talk about empathy and do a little Improv. I mean it’s been kind of transformative for me. Because I’ve been avoiding coming down here. Does that make sense? I think this is a healing thing that you are doing.”
