I Am Alive and IMAlive!
- ElleSkell
- Jan 31, 2018
- 3 min read
(Above Image: Bavmorda and Bellatrix sleepin' in a chair....), Entitled "All You Need is Cat Love"
I’ve always been called to humanitarian work, particularly any kind that had to do with any of the things no one wanted to talk about. I wanted to work in the fields that you had to throw on hazmat suits for and go on a Trip of a Lifetime with Miss Frizzle in the Magic School Bus, on a journey under the rug of all nuclear families:
Drug abuse.
Sexual abuse…
…and/or rape.
Illiteracy.
Mental illness.
Young pregnancies.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
…Suicide awareness and prevention.
I took in depth and a weekend block of intense training back in 2009, for my own local Crisis Clinic. That was a time where I stood upon the great precipice of violent change, and naturally I did not continue past training with Practicum—it simply wasn’t for me in that time or that space.
Fast forward a few years, after intense battles that are above and beyond the call of duty to write about today. Today I want to talk about how I came to be with IMAlive, and why I consider it my greatest accomplishment to date.
By the end of 2015, I was embarking on major changes, and before the most drastic one I’d made in awhile, I attended with my 15-year-old-niece (at the time) the Supernatural Convention in Seattle in March 2016. Also a conversation for another time, because I am not here to talk about Supernatural, its cast, or Creation Entertainment—though they are awesome! We had a great time, but I realized while attending I was capable of connecting to and helping many of these people, using my story to birth inner and outer change for myself. This moment in time shifted my entire life in every way possible, and I am only just now coming to truly understand the full meaning of that.
Almost immediately I jumped on the opportunity to apply for the Creation-Random Acts-IMAlive partnership which is what ultimately began what is now known as the SPN Family Crisis Network. There are other players involved, and you can find out more at the IMAlive Blog by clicking here, and it is my general opinion the entire thing is life-changing, and requires further support. It would be many months before I was offered an in-depth interview, began and finished training (within a month and I don’t mind bragging about that, thank you!), and began my first live shifts.
I am now over 200 hours and I have had experiences which have humbled me, and others which have forced me to see parts of myself that would have otherwise remained dark, and therefore have been gifted with the ability to heal them.
In crisis work, one thing I have quickly realized is if you can illuminate a path for someone else, so too can you illuminate it for yourself.
I was part of the volunteer team from IMAlive who staffed the Seattle SPNCon 2017, that year in April, and there my love for Supernatural and all within the community turned into something else entirely. Emerged out of what seemed like nowhere but felt like a really big somewhere was a white-hot desire to propel positive change and soul safety everywhere I went, with anyone who would want me to.
I made connections to people from within IMAlive which opened me, shifted my thoughts and feelings, how I utilized those tools, and through their eyes began to see worth in myself I’d only ever dreamed of feeling in times before.
For me, working as a crisis intervention responder is like being on the front lines of a war created entirely by apathy. Apathy by parents, teachers, leaders, and absolutely by the judgmental and closed-minded structures of human society in general. Especially here in America--land of the "don't do that, what will the neighbors think?!"
I am grateful today for Supernatural, its cast and crew and writers, for Random Acts of Kindness and the genius behind the SPN charity work generally. I am especially grateful for the Supernatural Family, and of course the IMAlive Family, who often bridge an awesome world and a sad one and create a safe space for people to talk where they aren't met with apathy; rather, where they are met with love.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the real disease of humankind is not cancer—it’s emotional trauma directly caused by the tendency we as people have collectively to tell someone else they’re wrong so we can feel right. Our tendency to make groups of people feel powerless so we can feel powerful.
This is the lesson IMAlive has taught me, and continues to teach me to this day.
A thought to walk away with: What is power without kindness, empathy, love?
For now, be well.
