1 Jan 2020 DRAFT

ReAwaken Ripples
The pieces below are written by some of the amazing people who participated in
ReAwaken. They include reflections on the event itself, as well as the ripple effects
they have observed both personally and within the community as a result of ReAwaken.
‘A utopian experience’ by Suki Marek
Looking back on what was a profound week, I have
many feelings about what it meant to me. I may or
may not label them all, I haven’t decided yet. I went
into opening night not having a clue what to expect
but I just knew I needed to be there. Afterall, it was a
group of consumers and people from the mental
health industry that had some amazing ideas and
plans to improve the system from the inside out.
How great!
I got to know people that I knew briefly from along my journey and I met new
friends. Some who had travelled great distances to be there. As the week went on I
noticed some emotion stirring in me, I think hearing peoples stories and seeing the
emotion through the art pieces felt like my own stories and emotions, it reminded
me of my own experiences and so I could empathize. It made me think how we are
not so different after all. We are all humans with experiences that form who we are
and maybe if we are able to stay in connection with each other then I think in the
end, we will all be ok? I don’t think it needs to be complicated.
I did feel a bit out of my depth at first surrounded by all these amazing change
makers and dreamers. I needed to find my reason for being there. And I found it, for
me I wanted to just take it all in, learn as much as I could. Maybe make some new
friends and most importantly keep my heart and mind open.
My biggest take away from the event was witnessing the impromptu demonstration
of the peer supported open dialogue run by Amanda Waegeli and Cherie McGregor. It
sparked something in me, it worked! And I could see first hand how it worked.
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