If you are interested...

Dear Friends, I received this email from Steve Paone, a former novice of
the S.M., who writes to me from time to time. I promised him to send this
out on one of my listings for my meditations. I chose the template
listing--Scripture-- so if you feel like helping him fine, if not, just say
a prayer for the cause.
In Christ the Lord, wishing you all a Blessed and Joyous Easter season.

Fr. Bert Buby, S.M.





Hi Everyone,

Once again, I'll be walking the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Walk on May 21 and ask your help.
The letter below explains why the walk is important and speaks for itself.
It's a true story of a member here and what his life with mental illness is
like.

I thank you always for your kind support on behalf of all the members here.

Steve


March 25, 2011
"I WISH I WAS NOBODY!!'

That's what one man said to me one morning as we sat in the dining room
waiting for our daily morning meeting where I work. A number of members
were discussing who they'd like to be like: sports stars or celebrities,
when this gentleman spoke up in a voice filled with inner pain: "I WISH I
WAS NOBODY!!"

I was immediately struck by the tone and content of his statement. I asked
him to explain but he was not able to express what he meant.

Yet when you live with a severe mental illness that renders the "SOMEBODY"
you are as one who is: avoided by others, walked wide of when encountering
others, ignored in conversations, perceived as "weird", "strange",
"different", "unstable" or even "dangerous", and live with the societal
stigma and shame of a no fault mental illness ……..when this is the SOMEBODY
you are …..Then perhaps you do "WISH I WAS NOBODY" ….BECAUSE BEING A
"NOBODY" JUST MAY NOT HURT AS MUCH AS BEING A "SOMEBODY" WITH A MENTAL
ILLNESS.

Each year I walk the Nami Walk to raise awareness that people living with
mental illness are Human Beings with feelings, hopes, needs, and
contributors to the Great Human Family we're ALL members of. No worse, no
better. Equals.

This year I walk this walk and ask your generous support to help Nami
support this man to celebrate saying: "I AM SOMEBODY"

You can pledge me securely online at
www.nami.org/namiwalks11/MAS/stevepaone

Or by check to Nami Massachusetts. Mail to Steve Paone
Elm Brook Place
124 South Rd
Bedford MA 01730
Thanks so much for your support

Steve