May 2022 3rd Street Beat

3rd Street Beat

The 3rd Street Beat Mission Statement

The Third Street Beat is a newsletter written by and created for people with substance use disorder. 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.

www.projectrenewal.org/rc-newsletters

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The PTSD Kicking In

by Jaime Pastor p. 3

So or Mo-briety

By Kennard Singleton p. 4

I’ve Been Scared

ByAlvin Shuford p. 4

12 Reasons Why

ByYaritza Velle p. 5

13 Ways of Looking

By Raymond Bird III p. 5

Our Value Beyond Expectation

ByAlvin Shuford p. 6

U R Profile; U R Wrong

By Moses Flores p. 6

Fuel 4Thoughts “Current”

By Kennard Singleton p. 7

My New Morning Star

By Moses Flores p. 7

13 Ways of Sitting In the Garden

By Kennard Singleton p. 7

I’ve been scared, I’ve been battered.

My hopes the wind done shattered Sun don’t bake me, Snow Don’t freeze me. Look like between them They didn’t

Stop laughing, Stop loving.

I don’t care because I’m still here.

By Alvin Shuford

By Kennard Singleton

Time Persistence byArtist Daniel Heller onArtGreet

12 Reasons Why

Bringing a new life is a blessing. There’s a lot of changes a woman’s body goes through, a woman’s body is actually amazing…believe it or not.

The things we go through to bring the baby into this world:

1) Belly growing and feeling your movements

2) Weight gain

3) Swelling

4) 5)Hypertension

Stretch marks

6) Weird cravings

7) Barely could walk

8) Gotta roll outta bed

9) Always using the bathroom

10) Morning Sickness

11) Sometimes post-partum

12) Giving Birth

I can keep going on with my list, but because I am getting blessed with the best gift in life, that’s actually bringing a life, and I wouldn’t change anything about it. Just know mommy will always have you, baby girl.

-

By Yaritza Valle

13 Ways of Looking Into Your Eyes

1. When I look into your eyes,

2. I see a bright sunshine

3. I can’t but think of all that I have lost because of not being kind to each other

4. The true meaning of happiness, I once thought, would be to see you, smile.

I thought of 13 ways, but as I go to sleep each night, All I can do is look into your eyes.

Raymond Bird, III

Painting: Rain Romance by Vickie Wade

Our value beyond our expectation

U r Profile; U r Wrong

By Moses Flores

U r profile, ur wrong

I am big and strong

So I am a brute

I look menacing

So I can not be the good guy

U r cute & meek

Our value beyond our expectation

When we become aware of Our negatives and strive For changes, what is the key?

When we become aware of Our negatives and strive For changes, what is the key?

The key to success is to be honest with ourselves, and our brothers, and our sisters. We do live in this world and time we have the ability to learn right from wrong. And teach each other right from wrong.

So not assumed as a backstabbing snake

I look mean and menacing

So I won’t be confused with a saint

So I tell you white lies

I am an ugly lack cloud that produces rain

I am only a man in my mirror

Yet u still judge me

U r profile; u r wrong

The key to success is to be honest with ourselves, and our brothers, and our sisters. We do live in this world and time we have the ability to learn right from wrong. And teach each other right from wrong. By

Yet you love white clouds that only produce a pretty pic

Alvin Shuford

By Alvin Shuford

Photo by BelleDeesse at WallpaperUp

Fuel 4 Thoughts “Current”

All through in my journey of recovery and living life on life’s terms, and through your journey, always remember it is like you are in a row boat. The closer you get to shore, the rougher the current gets. So always remember, the tougher it may get, keep in mind that you’re about to REAP YOUR REWARDS. #LivingAsExisting ~ by

Kennard Singleton.

13 Ways of Sitting In the Garden

The New Morning Star

By Yaritza Valle

You are the light of new morning day

You are the light that brings new hope

For you didn’t come as a pretty flower

Yet you became the seed of a beautiful change

You are not only the seed of growth, You are the water that enriches the soil

To new beginnings

You came and showed the True meaning of sacrifice And died humbly for my sins

You are the dawn of the new light

You are change

You are new hope

As I sat and gazed in theall-so-mysterious garden And all so beautiful

I smelled the aroma of Spring Tickling my nose hair so fulfilling

You are my greatYoumorningstar are Jesus

I watch how the sunlight creeps and peeps through the trees that Reach between the other trees

With my unique peripheral vision I gaze upon 2 mourning doves So gracefully they eat and walk in perfect sync

It shows the mysteries of our garden. I gaze behind and look at all the new life that arrived as they so patiently await their colleagues to enter the ‘pot.’ They now call home until another fall has come for a long winter’s nap.

By Kennard Singleton, back in time

In memory of our beloved friend and colleague, Princella Grant May, 2022

Princella asked that this piece be published in the March 2022 Third Street Beat. It is her message from the heart to all of the community members at TRC...

Untitled by Princella Grant

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!