By Daryl Tan
Give weight and listen
Pay attention to words that are not expressed
Feelings that are buried under one’s breath
Wounds and scars that take forever to heal
To support
Essentially means me taking a lesser role
Stopping criticism, judgement and stigma
Freeing my mind
Sensing the bigger picture
Saving unhealthy opinions and hard truths for what’s best
It’s not how best my advice is
Just me silently supporting every step of his way
I believe, my actions speak louder than my words
I look for the voice crying aloud inside
I am not above you
Neither am I more equal than you
Allow me to understand you
Put me in your shoes
Let me face this painful moment with you
I am beside, walking along with you
Hold me, use me, do not let go of me
To me ‘I’ matters first place
However least, if not, last in importance
Only when I give myself the best
Will I know what’s best for you?
Only with good rest and self-care
Do I give my one hundred and ten percent
Sometimes my client becomes shaky like me
I remember the body is calling to rest
Simple is my life
Easily contented with what I have
Not upset, hateful and full of grudge
I entered empty handed
I leave behind my name my legacy
I was ever too selfish and selfless
I was unhappy with others and myself
I realise to just enjoy
Enjoy by freeing up what I couldn’t let go
Support works both sides
Both opening up
Comfortable with one another
Trusting, our words in privacy
My observations are people have seasons
At some point they open up
It’s wrong and I have no right to force help
Helping means me opening arms yet allowing to let go
Learning comes with falling
Teach resilience
Show support
Transfer the confidence
Feed the hungry
By teaching him to fish
Train him to master it
Then teach him not to feed others but also be a teacher of fishing
I give weight to ‘Now’
My moments do not tick
It is still
Every step is the same
I breathe
I live
I exist for Him
Time is just a random figure
Yesterday has no effect
Tomorrow is just a response of today
I weigh my moments
I cherish every now, every moment, today
Watch what you weigh
You gonna get it!
Daryl Tan is a peer support specialist with Club HEAL. He believes recovery requires real hard work, and often the hard work is unseen. He empowers others as an unseen warrior. He loves his pets, singing, writing and connecting with fellow peers.