What is recreation worth?

Sounds like a fool question, but stick with me here… What is playing and recreating worth to you? Think about the things you like to do. Now, imagine you aren’t able to do them any more. What is the impact to your life if you can’t dance or jog or fish any more?

That is where Team River Runner comes in.

We do much more than play when we are away from work and life’s commitments. We learn skills that help keep our bodies in tune. We get out of our own bubbles and experience things that have lasting impact. And, we build friendships with those whom we recreate with. It is these friendships that truly have a lasting impact. Let me illustrate…

Not long ago, I was in a very dark and scary place. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a vile foe that knows how to infiltrate the most intimate pieces of your life. I struggled alone against this for some years and it was starting to get the upper hand. But, I remembered one late, sleepless night that a good friend of mine who I’d met on a TRR trip had mentioned that he, too, had late nights at times. So, I took a deep breath and called.

We spoke for a couple of hours, sharing things with one another that we’d not shared with anyone. We spoke of fear, shame, anger, depression, memories that just wouldn’t leave… And, somehow, we felt better. The fire burned less hot after that call and I was able to get some sleep.

That is the real value of Team River Runner – we build these relationships that stretch across miles and years, that bring healing in the middle of a long sleepless night. We make some friends the likes of which we’ve not seen since our time in the Military. We feel just a little more whole…

So, why do I tell you this? It is that time of year where we stand, hat in hand, seeking donations to bring this healing to others who’ve not found peace quite yet.

I’m going to ask you to visit TRR’s ExtraGive Page on November 17th and make a donation. And, between now and then, spread the word! It is only through the generosity of people like you that we can help build these kinds of friendships – the kind where a 2:00 a.m. frantic phone call results in peaceful rest and healing.

And, for those of you who know me, you know that I will always be ready on the other end of the line. If you need to talk, let me know.