TLC attitudes of gratitude: Accept and enjoy the gifts that enter your life
By Lynn Whitlow
Have you ever whispered “Thank
you, God’’ at the sight of a red-winged
blackbird (a rare sighting), a herd of elk in
an unexpected place or a fiery purple-red
sun-setting sky?
Have you ever picked up the phone
and heard a beloved voice from your past
that you thought was lost to you forever
and experienced a deep gratitude?
One such memory is etched in my
mind and heart forever (as long as I have
a mind). Good thing, because it was a
Kodak moment without a camera!
I was on my way home from Lincoln
City on Highway 229 somewhere near
milepost 14. A bull elk came up the bank
sporting a long garland of blooming wild
cucumber vines wrapped around his ant
lers and flowing down his sides and onto
the pavement.
He walked up the roadway for what
seemed like minutes but was probably
much less, looking so regal, so magical.
It took my breath away! What gratitude I
have felt each time I remember that gift.
Thank you God, thank you Creator!
We just never know what gifts are
going to be put in our paths, but it’s to our
advantage to be prepared to accept them,
enjoy them and say “thank you!”
The residents at the TLC practice
gratitude as a daily part of their lives.
They willingly share some of that thank
fulness with you: “I’m grateful for many
things again. First is my home, the
people that maintain our landscape and
the people who work hard at keeping
this home financially available to me and
my daughter.
“I want to thank Diane (Rodriquez)
for taking her time to interview me and
give me a spot in our paper. Wow! That
was a great feeling to read her words
of my life. I’m so lucky to be a part of
the Siletz Tribe! Thanks to SSP, TLC,
A&D and all my friends and family. I’m
very excited to move forward in my life.
I passed two of the five GED tests! I
couldn’t have done it without everyone.
Thank you with all my heart.”
“I am grateful for getting the Lord in
my life and for the wonderful people He
has put in my recovery. I am thankful for
having a wonderful home that starts my
new life. I am grateful for a roommate that
is a good friend and part of my new family.
And I am thankful for waking up and tak
ing a breath of fresh air every morning!”
We also are thankful for the won
derful volunteers we have - for George,
who brought his screwdriver and a bottle
of glue to repair our tall stools; for Alice
McCain, who slept her last night at
the TLC on April 21 before moving to
Washington state the following week. She
served us well for about six-and-a-half
years and will be sorely missed for her
dedicated service, wonderful smile and
loving heart. She and her husband are
getting settled into their new home.
Thank you to Denise Riding In for
your loving smile and caring heart and
for spending the night at the TLC most
weeks. We appreciate all of you.
Also, thank you, Papa, for coming in
and mowing the back yard as well as the
fields out front. We can find the kids now
when they are playing outside!
We hope each and every one of you
will find some things to be grateful for in
your life. Make a list! Do one every day
and see if it doesn’t work some magic in
your life
Enforcement of underage drinking laws necessary for zero tolerance
Did you know?
Alcohol is one of the most
used drug substances in the
Alcohol use and binge drinking
our nation’s youth is a major
health problem:
widely
world.
among
public
Alcohol is used by more young peo
ple in the United States than tobacco
or illicit drugs.1
Excessive alcohol consumption is
associated with approximately 75,000
deaths per year.2
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Alcohol is a factor in approximately
41 percent of all deaths from motor
vehicle crashes.3
Among youth, the use of alcohol
and other drugs has been linked to
unintentional injuries, physical fights,
academic and occupational problems
and illegal behavior.4
Long-term alcohol misuse is associ
ated with liver disease, cancer, car
diovascular disease and neurological
damage as well as psychiatric prob
lems such as depression, anxiety and
antisocial personality disorder.5
Volunteer for Prevention Program
If you are interested in volunteering with the Prevention Program, here are
some specific guidelines:
Apply to be a Tribal Prevention volunteer at Human Resources. This will
include agreeing to a criminal background check and a drug screen.
Attend an orientation with Prevention staff to learn about ethics and program
policies and procedures. A volunteer training program will be developed.
For those with previous problems of alcohol/drugs, at least one year of living
a clean and sober lifestyle is required.
Participate in making a prevention video/DVD.
All people to be filmed must sign an agreement to be filmed.
The Tribal general manager and Tribal Council must approve of the final
cut before it’s released for public viewing.
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Any question regarding this process, please contact Jenifer Met
calf, Prevention coordinator, at jeniferm@ctsi.nsn.us or 800-600-5599 or
541-444-9618.
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Drug use contributes directly and
indirectly to the HIV epidemic and
alcohol and drug use contribute
markedly to infant morbidity and
mortality.5
As of 1988, all states prohibit the
purchase of alcohol by youth under age
21. Consequently, underage drinking is
defined as consuming alcohol prior to the
minimum legal drinking age of 21.
Current alcohol use among high
school students remained steady from
1991 to 1999, then decreased from 50
percent in 1999 to 42 percent in 2009.
Also in 2009, 24 percent of high school
students reported episodic heavy or
binge drinking.6
Zero tolerance laws in all states make
it illegal for youth under age 21 to drive
with any measurable amount of alcohol
in their system (i.e., with a blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) >0.02 g/dL).78
In 2009, 10 percent of high school
students reported driving a car or other
vehicle during the past 30 days when they
had been drinking alcohol. In addition,
28 percent of students reported riding in
a car or other vehicle during the past 30
days driven by someone who had been
drinking alcohol.6
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Ser
vices. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to
Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of the Surgeon General, 2007
CDC. Alcohol-attributable deaths and years
of potential life lost - United States, 2001.
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2004;
53(37):866-870
U.S. Department of Transportation. Fatality
Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Web
based Encyclopedia
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. The relationship between
mental health and substance abuse among ado
lescents. Rockville, Md.: Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, 1999
Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Mokdad A, Denny C,
Serdula MK, Marks JS. Binge drinking among
U.S. adults. JAMA 2003; 289:70-75
CDC. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance -
United States, 2009 pdf 3.5M, MMWR 2010;
59(SS-5): 1-142
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis
tration. States with Zero Tolerance Laws for
Drivers Under Age 21. Washington, D.C.:
U.S. Department of Transportation, 2002
J.H. Hedlund, R.G. Ulmer, D.F. Preusser.
Determine Why There Are Fewer Young
Alcohol-Impaired Drivers. Washington, D.C.:
U.S. Department of Transportation, 2001
(Report Number DOT HS 809 348).
CEDARR
Community Efforts Demonstrating the Ability to Rebuild and Restore •
Mission Statement: We will utilize resources to prevent the use of alcohol
and other drugs, delinquency and violence; we will seek to reduce the barriers
to treatment and support those who choose abstinence. •
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The last CEDARR meeting was held May 4 at 5:30 p.m. Nine people attended.
Dinner was great and so was the conversation. We ended the meeting with goals
and tasks.
CEDARR is planning a summer gathering with a tentative date of July 21.
CEDARR also is planning an event for Recovery/Wellbriety Month. This is
a national celebration that takes place in September. We have formed a subcom-
mittee and if you are interested in being part of this planning process, we will
meet on June 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Siletz Community Health Clinic. We would
love to have you join us.
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Juns 1 • Noon
Behavioral Health Conf. Room
Siletz Community Health Clinic *
200 Gwee-Shut Road, Siletz •
Topic to be discussed: Summer gathering
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Siletz News
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June 2011
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