Brittany & The Buried Life (Part 1)
Getting back to a huge passion of mine: writing.
...It's been a while since my last post and felt inspired to update. First off, let me update by saying I've continued to be nanny and personal assistant to my families. And although I really enjoy working for them, I keep going back to the thought of doing something more. And no, I don't mean adding to what I already do...but more so moving on...
A few years ago, I was a counselor for a brain injury camp here in Oklahoma. A friend of my mom's who also worked at the hospital had volunteered a couple times and became aware of my heart for people. She helped me get the "job" and we began our trip down to the camp shortly after. Little did I know, I was heading to a place that would forever change me.
I remember arriving at the camp right before dinner. We were introduced to our campers that would be in our bunks and began to eat. As I was learning names and exchanging mine, I was introduced to a woman who wasn't a camper, but a translator for one of the girls in my bunk.
Brittany (name change) was 15 years old, at the time. Also, in fear of being an inconvenience, she rarely spoke. As I was listening to the different kinds of laughter and stories going on at the table, I also noticed the lack of noise from where Brittany was sitting. She was very focused on eating her food with her head down and avoiding all eye contact...almost like she was hoping no one would speak to her.
Personally, as a girl who struggled with an immense amount of fear of what others thought of me at that time, it was easy to not only relate, but recognize it when I saw it.
I slid over to where she was and began conversing, in hopes she would ease up. She was still very shy but I managed to crack a smile. Although I don't quite recall that particular conversation, I will always remember what she eventually told me later on in the week.
At Camp Sunrise, there was always a talent show that was held for the campers. This was their favorite event, to say the least. While everyone was preparing for what they would do, I saw Brittany sitting by herself on a log close to where the show would take place.
I made my way over to give her company, but to also ask her what her story was. I got the feeling that she just wanted someone to talk to...but I quickly learned why she rarely made the attempt.
Brittany began to speak and informed me that a couple years prior to being at the camp, she was involved in a fatal car wreck. She and some friends were drinking and driving when it happened and the car suddenly crashed. All her friends were flown out of the vehicle and died instantly. Brittany, thankfully, survived but was left with a speech impediment that made it extremely difficult to understand...thus, the reason for her being so shy and quiet. She told me that no one ever really talked to her because they couldn't understand what she was saying, but also never gave her the time in the first place. She told me she had lost many friends because she was "different" and was bullied. As my heart began to break, she quickly made me smile when she followed up with saying that it had been the best week of her life, since.
To quickly sum this up, I realized in those moments that everyone has a story to tell, but many are too busy in life to stop and listen. We get too carried away with time and rush to get to our next destination that we overlook those who just want to be heard. Those who desperately long for friendship. Those who long for someone just take the time to listen.
I don't know what Brittany is up to now or how she's doing, but I will also credit her for being someone who helped me realize what I wanted to do with my life....Enter: The Buried Life
...to be continued.
...It's been a while since my last post and felt inspired to update. First off, let me update by saying I've continued to be nanny and personal assistant to my families. And although I really enjoy working for them, I keep going back to the thought of doing something more. And no, I don't mean adding to what I already do...but more so moving on...
A few years ago, I was a counselor for a brain injury camp here in Oklahoma. A friend of my mom's who also worked at the hospital had volunteered a couple times and became aware of my heart for people. She helped me get the "job" and we began our trip down to the camp shortly after. Little did I know, I was heading to a place that would forever change me.
I remember arriving at the camp right before dinner. We were introduced to our campers that would be in our bunks and began to eat. As I was learning names and exchanging mine, I was introduced to a woman who wasn't a camper, but a translator for one of the girls in my bunk.
Brittany (name change) was 15 years old, at the time. Also, in fear of being an inconvenience, she rarely spoke. As I was listening to the different kinds of laughter and stories going on at the table, I also noticed the lack of noise from where Brittany was sitting. She was very focused on eating her food with her head down and avoiding all eye contact...almost like she was hoping no one would speak to her.
Personally, as a girl who struggled with an immense amount of fear of what others thought of me at that time, it was easy to not only relate, but recognize it when I saw it.
I slid over to where she was and began conversing, in hopes she would ease up. She was still very shy but I managed to crack a smile. Although I don't quite recall that particular conversation, I will always remember what she eventually told me later on in the week.
At Camp Sunrise, there was always a talent show that was held for the campers. This was their favorite event, to say the least. While everyone was preparing for what they would do, I saw Brittany sitting by herself on a log close to where the show would take place.
I made my way over to give her company, but to also ask her what her story was. I got the feeling that she just wanted someone to talk to...but I quickly learned why she rarely made the attempt.
Brittany began to speak and informed me that a couple years prior to being at the camp, she was involved in a fatal car wreck. She and some friends were drinking and driving when it happened and the car suddenly crashed. All her friends were flown out of the vehicle and died instantly. Brittany, thankfully, survived but was left with a speech impediment that made it extremely difficult to understand...thus, the reason for her being so shy and quiet. She told me that no one ever really talked to her because they couldn't understand what she was saying, but also never gave her the time in the first place. She told me she had lost many friends because she was "different" and was bullied. As my heart began to break, she quickly made me smile when she followed up with saying that it had been the best week of her life, since.
To quickly sum this up, I realized in those moments that everyone has a story to tell, but many are too busy in life to stop and listen. We get too carried away with time and rush to get to our next destination that we overlook those who just want to be heard. Those who desperately long for friendship. Those who long for someone just take the time to listen.
I don't know what Brittany is up to now or how she's doing, but I will also credit her for being someone who helped me realize what I wanted to do with my life....Enter: The Buried Life
...to be continued.
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