1. Residents Saving Money, Reducing Debts
2. Staff Apply the CREED in Times of Crisis
3. Teamwork Among Agencies Meeting Needs of Homeless
4. The Recovery Games: My Personal Olympics

The Recovery Games: My Personal Olympics
By Joseph W. – Resident, St. Vincent de Paul Village

Recovery Games participants from St. Vincent de Paul Village walk with Father Joe in the parade of atheletes at Mesa College in May.

   What a thrill, the Olympics – oops, forgive me – the Recovery Games. The name isn’t the same but the thrill is. I felt almost as if I were participating in the Olympic Games, saw and felt so many parallels. Sports, pageantry, teams, officials and spectators from all over the San Diego area, different only geographically from the representation of many countries.

   So many people and so many organizations, all involved with us, people in recovery, taking a giant step toward being like most of "normal" society. We were participating in athletic events for the joy of competition and the health of our bodies as well as minds, rejoicing in being able to function clearly and capably at something so positive. How grateful I felt to those who were responsible for this whole super program administered by the City/County of San Diego and the Department of Parks & Recreation.

   Basketball was first, a whole day of it in early April, double-elimination tournaments in a number of categories. I volunteered as timer and scorer for the Over 39 tournament and witnessed our St. Vincent de Paul Village team finish a "sterling silver" second. They came all the way through the consolation bracket to face an undefeated VVSD (Vietnam Veterans of San Diego) team and put up a great fight before succumbing.

   This was what it was all about, the thrill of victory, the disappointment (not agony– as ABC would say) of defeat, for we had done well and had nothing to be ashamed of, only to appreciate. A week later it was volleyball, another full day of some great games and again I helped by scoring, feeling so much a part of this wonderful idea of healthy participation in wholesome activities.

   The finale on Saturday, May 17, with the Track and Field events at Mesa College was a fitting climax, its huge stadium an excellent backdrop. Another full day, with many participating organizations providing transportation and food, a great parade around the track with banners identifying us and on into the competition.

   Simply "Olympic"! Thanks so much to the people of San Diego and the supporters of St. Vincent de Paul Village for their "Olympic" example of caring and giving us such a fantastic opportunity to advance our own personal recoveries.