letter to my mentor
At 12:11 PM 9/1/2005, you wrote:
Dr. Yalom,
I am writing because you have been such an inspiration in my life. I have read several of your books... seen some of your tapes... and had owned and planned on reading even more of your books prior to the hurricane. I am/was a Masters in Counseling student at Loyola University. As I sit here with opened suitcase, I am looking down at Love's Executioner along with a selection of hastily packed clothes. I only had a few hours to grab the things that meant most to me and to help board my house as well as my parents house. It is such a strange phenomena to go through this because even though you prepare for the worst, emotionally you don't expect it.
As I look down at Love's Executioner, I think about the pain your patients have felt and how your gifts helped them to help themselves. My world, like many around me, feels like it has been put through a physical and emotional cheese grater. My fiance', family, and friends have all been reacting in a myriad of ways. Many have been crying... some are frozen... others are anxiously trying to rebuild. As I grieve and analyze our next move, I am reminded me of why I got into the profession to begin with... to help others deal with pain to help ease suffering. This is the same pain I am feeling and sorting through. I am reminded of the way you described pain as a wound and how important it is to analyze that wound to be able to let it heal. I am trudging through that point myself and I know it will take time. Everyone around me is struggling to do the same. I know everything will end up okay... I will still get married to the woman I love... our families made it through okay with some amazing stories of goodwill... my friends all seem to be safe and helping one another... I will finish my masters program somewhere... my things will be replaced... and yet everything will be different. Getting to the point where you can truly accept that change is painful.
I am applying to schools in the region as we speak and looking for new housing. If I am able to find housing in the region, I plan to volunteer with red cross to help those affected come to terms with their own wounds. I hope to get into a Phd program one day and work on my writing so I may be able to help others as you have. You have been a mentor to me and I thank you for that. Your words and stories have been a wonderful gift that I can't thank you enough for. One of my closest friends, Bill Rosenbaum, who I pray is okay, had dinner with you one night and said it was one of the greatest moments in his life. You have an amazing gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Billy
Dr. Yalom,
I am writing because you have been such an inspiration in my life. I have read several of your books... seen some of your tapes... and had owned and planned on reading even more of your books prior to the hurricane. I am/was a Masters in Counseling student at Loyola University. As I sit here with opened suitcase, I am looking down at Love's Executioner along with a selection of hastily packed clothes. I only had a few hours to grab the things that meant most to me and to help board my house as well as my parents house. It is such a strange phenomena to go through this because even though you prepare for the worst, emotionally you don't expect it.
As I look down at Love's Executioner, I think about the pain your patients have felt and how your gifts helped them to help themselves. My world, like many around me, feels like it has been put through a physical and emotional cheese grater. My fiance', family, and friends have all been reacting in a myriad of ways. Many have been crying... some are frozen... others are anxiously trying to rebuild. As I grieve and analyze our next move, I am reminded me of why I got into the profession to begin with... to help others deal with pain to help ease suffering. This is the same pain I am feeling and sorting through. I am reminded of the way you described pain as a wound and how important it is to analyze that wound to be able to let it heal. I am trudging through that point myself and I know it will take time. Everyone around me is struggling to do the same. I know everything will end up okay... I will still get married to the woman I love... our families made it through okay with some amazing stories of goodwill... my friends all seem to be safe and helping one another... I will finish my masters program somewhere... my things will be replaced... and yet everything will be different. Getting to the point where you can truly accept that change is painful.
I am applying to schools in the region as we speak and looking for new housing. If I am able to find housing in the region, I plan to volunteer with red cross to help those affected come to terms with their own wounds. I hope to get into a Phd program one day and work on my writing so I may be able to help others as you have. You have been a mentor to me and I thank you for that. Your words and stories have been a wonderful gift that I can't thank you enough for. One of my closest friends, Bill Rosenbaum, who I pray is okay, had dinner with you one night and said it was one of the greatest moments in his life. You have an amazing gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Billy
posted by was at 4:23 PM
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