3rd Street Beat
The 3rd Street Beat Mission Statement
The Third Street Beat is a newsletter written by and created for people with addiction. Our mission is to validate that experience so people know that they are not alone, and to emphasize the many unique roads that we take to recovery. This is an opportunity to share our experiences to creatively support each other. We are non-political, non-denominational, multi-racial, and gender neutral. Our mission is one of recovery and harm reduction, and all experiences are welcome. All the viewpoints herein are personal in nature and related specifically to our contributors’ recovery.
The 3rd Street Beat Editorial Team
The 3rd Street Beat is produced byThe Recovery Center community with assistance from the occupational therapy team.
3rd Street Beat back issues can be downloaded at: www.projectrenewal.org/rc-newsletters
SUDOKU (solution p. 6)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Art
Cover by Susan Longton
Recovery by Julius Simms p. 6
Abstract by Julius Simms p. 9
PoeTry and Prose
For Once in My Live by Edwin Pagan p. 3
News from Eddie p. 4
Black Sheep by Moses Flores p. 4
3/2/22 byYaritza Valle p. 5
Untitled by Princella Grant p. 6
Black Out poems by Raymond Bird and Moses Flores p. 7
Journey to the Lost World by Raymond Bird p.8
Safe by Moses Flores p. 9
Pics aroundTRC p. 8
The rules of the game are simple: each of the nine blocks has to contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.
For once in my life, I am feeling good about myself. I never had no clean time. I was always playing with my life, you know? But this time I am real serious about it. I feel scared, sometimes, because I can’t remember when I was doing normal things. Now I am thinking about all the good things in life that I was missing. I got my family in my life. They always been in my life, but now that I am not using I call them every day. They support me a lot, and I thank God for that. I started some detox, I did 36 days there. I did 3 weeks in the Crisis Center. That is longest I have ever stayed sober. I got tired of living the way I was living - waking up in the morning not having enough money to buy a cup of coffee…waking up sick. I am starting to feel real good about myself. It is scary because I don’t want to go back to that life ever again. It is hard because there are a lot of things in my way that I gotta stay away from. I just gotta stay strong and not pick up. What helps me stay focused is learning. Learning to do things that I never had time to do when I was using. I want to go to school. I want to work. I want to be responsible for my life. During the day I come to TRC because it is safe for me. When I go back to the shelter, I eat dinner, I don’t talk to nobody, I don’t want to know nobody. I am just focusing on my life and getting myself together. Somebody came up to me yesterday in the shelter and asked me if I need anything. He told me he could get anything I wanted. I said ‘I don’t need anything, and I don’t need you to be asking me if I need anything because I don’t ask nobody for nothing.’ I just left it like that. I stay to myself a lot. I take a shower, I do a couple of pushups and start watching the news on the phone. I get tired, I take my medication and I go to sleep. That is how I get through my day. I like taking walks. Like walking around Manhattan – get away from the Bronx where I did things I don’t feel good about. I walk around in Manhattan, look at the buildings, take pictures, and share them with my family. The only things I have close to me are TRC and my family. I am beginning to make some good friends at TRC. I always pray every night. I pray for me, I pray for everybody else to take away this addiction we have and live a normal life we live life to the fullest – and that we don’t let anyone take that away from us ever.
By Edwin PaganHello my name is Eddie. I am 29 years old about to be 30 in April 2022. It has been a long journey for me. Growing up is hard but I find ways get around it. Like setting up a plan and a goal…so that way I would know what I want do the future. Staying focused and getting away from people places and things. I am looking for a new way of life - to be free from the negative stuff out there, learning how to live and enjoy myself.
ByEddieCollymore
Black Sheep by Moses Flores
Being a black sheep has always been considered a bad thing. Usually someone who has been ostracized for being different. Sought of making them punching bags or burdens to what society deems to be normal. Yet in reality a black sheep should be considered a miracle because it's not everyday a black sheep is born. Yet naturally black sheep are treated as outsiders because they look different. Same holds true for black panthers which are actually just black leopards. They are so rare that they are given a whole different name. Although this can make for a challenging - and maybe lonely - life. It can also build mettle and inner strength. It helps to build a thick skin and make for a much stronger individual in the long run. T his built up strength can transform you from an outsider to a leader. It all depends on how you handle adversity and turmoil. Remember that pressure bursts pipes but pressure also creates diamonds. So who are you? Are you the busted pipe or are you a diamond in the rough?
Today I am feeling amazing, cause I got a phone call from my sister and before, honestly, I didn’t like answering her calls cause they were always to argue with me because of my actions and decisions I chose to make in my life. Now, I understand she just wanted more for me, I just didn't see it. So, today’s phone call made me really happy because she has asked me to babysit my baby nephew for the first time in going on three years. I have never been alone with my baby nephew and tomorrow I finally get to spend some quality time with him and it’s because she sees a difference in me. We speak more and also see and spend more some time with each other. She has told me that she is glad to have her sister back and it feels amazing to have her back. My sister and I was very close. I used to call her my diary and I messed that up with the bullshit I was doing. It feels good to have my family back in my life. Before, I didn’t care….ok…let me switch it up and be totally honest. I did care, but at that moment in life, I only cared about the high I was chasing. I didn’t care about anyone's’ feelings. For the first time in years I am taking my recovery serious because I have lost a lot of time that I could never get back. I am not that girl anymore. I love the woman I am becoming today and I will continue to take it day by day.
To all that are Recovering from something, whether if from heartbreak, brokenness, substance use disorder, ot just life in general. You push through. Showing up to TRC no matter what the weather (rain, sleet, snow) or no matter what state you are in you push through it.
Seeing your many faces and learning your many life stories, I am honored that you have trusted me with your many stories. We push forward as a family through many losses and gains. I am glad to be apart of this work family. I have also shared my family with you all. They adore you all as a community and can’t wait for each and every chance to come to TRC. I know we all have things we struggle with on the daily and as a family of peers we push through. And as a part of TRC I am happy to share my life with all of you.
P.S. Y’all famous from state to state via Delaware and Philly mom and Brother. Keep up with TRC via Instagram love you all!
By Raymond Bird…
By Moses Flores
Safeby Moses Flores
