TO BE AWARE IS TO BE ALIVE

How many times have you heard that a person met with an accident because he was talking on mobile? How many times have you forgotten to put off the stove due to which your food got spoiled? How many times have you suffered losses in business due to negligence? In day to day life we come across various problems which arise as we are not 'AWARE'.

In an addict’s life, his attitude of not being aware leads to a gamut of problems. He spends his money on his addiction, without being aware that his child’s school fee needs to be deposited. His old mother cries and woo's through pain but for him his next drug dose is important. He bunks his college just to be there with addict friends, without realizing the loss to his future. He is not aware how badly he treats and abuses his family, who, are the only people who care for him.  In totality he is not aware how he is losing on all important aspects of his life.

In SHAFA, awareness is practised in its true sense. The treatment as practised in SHAFA is about being aware of one owns life. The resident starts learning to be aware from the small issues happening in the house. He holds himself and other family members accountable using the tool called ‘confrontation’. He is aware now, that unless he is not in here and now, he can’t earn his recovery. Even after the treatment a recovering addict is always aware and attentive that a mere thought of addiction can lead to his relapse. When the resident completes his treatment he doesn’t only starts responding to his own recovery but is more aware about his families concerns too.  So if a person wants to live his life to the fullest, he needs to be AWARE.

FEELS GOOD TO KNOW, THAT WE ARE 12 YEARS OLD

TODAY, THE BREEZE WHICH ENTERED FROM SHAFA HOMES DOOR WAS DISSOLVED WITH THE FRAGNANCES OF JASMINE AND ROSES. HOLY CHANTS MADE THE AMBIENCE MORE SPIRITUAL. IT IS A DAY OF CREATION, DAY OF REJUVINATION. YES, IT IS SHAFA’S 12th FOUNDATION DAY.

TODAY SHAFA BECAME ONE YEAR YOUNGER. A SMALL SAPLING, WHICH WAS PLANTED 12 YEAR BACK HAS NOW MATURED INTO A BLOSSOMING TREE. SHAFA IS THE RESULT OF THE HARD WORK OF ALL THOSE SOULS, WHOM CONTRIBUTED WITH PASSION AND GREAT DEDICATION, BELIEVED IN THE POWER OF ‘WE’ THAN ‘I’. THEIR FOCUS WAS TO SERVE SOCIETY WITH GRATITUDE, WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION.   

THERE WERE DAYS WHICH WERE TOUGH, MOMENTS WHICH WERE ENLIGHTNENING, BUT WE STAYED TOGETHER.  SO TODAY WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED US IN SPIRIT IN THIS JOURNEY. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WITH US TODAY, BUT WITHOUT WHOM THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE. WE LEARNT FROM EVERY SMALL THING WHICH MADE US STRONGER. OUR JOURNEY IS POSSIBLE BECASE WE HOPED AGAINST HOPE. THANKS TO EVERONE.

DAY STARTED WITH ‘HAWAN’ FOLLOWED BY SHARING OF STAFF AND COUNCELLORS. THEY GAVE A HOPE TO RESIDENTS THAT ONE DAY EVEN THEY WILL BECOME A PART OF SHAFA’S CHAIN OF RECOVERY. A ‘LANGER’ (COMMUNITY FOOD) WAS PREPARED BY RESIDENTS AND ALSO DISTRIBUTTED AMONGST POOR AND HOMELESS, TO SHARE THIS BIG DAY. THE CULTUAL PROGRAM PRESENTED BY RESIDENTS ON THIS OCCASSION WAS WORTH WITNESSING.   

DUMP THE WORD “WHEN”

The word ‘when’ holds an immense turmoil both in the addict and his family. This word is connected with expectations which stagnates the present and breaks the future. As a family you must have heard from an addict saying ‘I will leave my drugs 'when' my family starts supporting me’. I will leave drugs, 'when' my business flourishes. In the same manner family lives in whimsical world. They keep on saying ‘when’ their child will leave drugs. When he is going to become a responsible person.

It is the outer projection of an addict to the world, that he wants to leave drugs, but is unable to do so due to innumerable reasons. It is just a lame excuse to gain sympathies of the world around. In reality this 'when’ never comes. If a person wants to leave drugs a mere determination will save his life. He needs to start acting on present instead of putting things for the future. In the same manner unless and until a family starts responding to the wrong act, stop enabling, they will suffer as a co-dependent. They have to come out of any good future predictions and set themselves accountable for giving a disciplined family environment.

In SHAFA, we follow a simple rule ‘Action is the magic word’. We make the resident practise to ‘act now’. There is no place for future assumptions. The resident learns to respond to his wrong actions and correct it simultaneously instead of putting into ‘when' stories. 

RE-LEARNING ........‘LIFE SKILLS’

‘It’s not related to me. I do not use syringes’. This is a common response among alcoholics when asked about HIV/AIDS. There are many misconceptions prevailing in the mind of people, that they are completely safe. To remove wrong notions, SHAFA on 11th Nov, stepped into a new initiative. Representatives from one of the leading organization in our country “NAZ FOUNDATION” were invited to sensitize and educate residents in SHAFA about HIV/AIDS. This issue is of vital importance amongst drug abusers. It is not only a problem of ID users as commonly known, but even alcoholics & other drug abusers lose their sense of judgement and right decision under the influence of their drug/alcohol. This leads them into the category of high risk target group.

Session started with basic concepts and difference between HIV and AIDS. It was followed by reason, precautions, symptoms, do’s don’ts, and treatment. Concept of precaution i.e. ABC (Absenteeism, Be faithful, Condom) was beautifully explained. There was an overwhelming response from residents as there were so many clarifications. It was great to see that various misconceptions were broken. 

This issue was important as it doesn’t only affect the individual but future generation too.

DAY OF SPRITUAL UNION

India is a country which follows diverse religions. Although no particular religious practices are promoted in SHAFA, yet all religious days are celebrated with honour and respect.  With the same spirit residents at SHAFA celebrated ‘Gurpurab’ with gaiety and fervour.

The Sikh religion as represented by their “Gurus” has always advocated the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal introspection on the name and message of God.  To inculcate these techniques in our day to day living, Gurpurab was celebrated in SHAFA, both in Delhi and Kotdwar. Religious songs, keertan, ardas and rehras path & hyms were recited on the occasion. Few residents spoke about the teachings of Gurus and few spoke about the sacrifices they have made. This was followed by ‘KADA PARSHAD’. Few residents from Sikh religion volunteered for ‘Kar Seva’ for the day. Finally the day ended up with Bhangra.

ILLUMINATING YOUNG MINDS....DIWALI CELEBERATIONS

All celebrations & festivals are observed in Shafa. But as everything in Shafa has to be ‘Therapeutic’ hence each celebration has a therapeutic value behind it.

In the outer world one earns money through hard work, dedication and competence. This money is then used for buying our comfort and for our leisure besides providing for our livelihood and necessities of life. Similarly in Shafa there is great emphasis on the concept of ‘No Free Meals” in every day to day therapeutic activity. Residents are expected to be ‘accountable’ for everything and that they have to earn their way forward.

Around 15 days before Diwali, every night, residents accounted for earning ‘Brownie Points’ in the form of ‘ Shafa Currency’ and based on their positive behaviours. Simultaneously residents planned and organized a ‘Diwali Mela’ besides other celebrations for the day.  Stalls were set up for games and resident spend their earned ‘Shafa Currency’ and finally when food stalls were opened, they spend their remaining money to buy those items.

On this occasion various cultural programs were also organised, like Tambola, Musical chair, dance competitions etc.  Late in the evening Pooja was performed by the residents. Finally the day ended with illuminating the entire facility with candles and electrical fixtures, bursting fire crackers and a grand feast.

Residents of foreign origin also participated by singing Bollywood Hindi songs. One of the resident shared that ‘I was so involved throughout the day, that I didn’t realize how the day passed. Everything finished in a jiffy”. Another resident shared that before he goes to bed today, he will compare this Diwali with all other Diwalis of his life. The amount of happiness and enjoyment which he experienced in Shafa without being under any influence of drugs or alcohol can nowhere match any of his previous celebrations. In spite of not being with his family today, he was happier and enjoyed it more with his SHAFA family.