by Bill Deavel, Peer Support Coordinator
November 1, 2022
There are many forms of culture that we can address when it comes to recovery. Over the years it has been a piece of my professional development that I have had to work on. I think for me I needed to understand my own culture to be able to recognize and appreciate other forms of culture. I think for me it was comfortable to stay in my own little box where I felt safe. As I grew in my recovery - starting in Seattle - I was able to experience the culture of others. I remember when I was going through my internship, I participated in a cultural awareness training where I was introduced to a variety of different cultures just based on all the nationalities that where present in our area.
And remember, national identity is just one form of culture. There are many cultural considerations that I was made aware of. As I have grown - both in my recovery and professionally - I have developed my own culture based on my beliefs and values. I also have become more willing to be curious about the cultures of others and appreciate them. I have even been able to take pieces of other cultures and utilize them and incorporate them into my own. Overall, I have a lot more to learn when it comes to culture. I am dedicated to being open minded about culture and all that this has to offer me in my recovery and my professional development. I think the one thing that I have adopted is to be authentically curious of others culture. In closing, I would like to say that for me, it is rewarding to be open to other cultures, without having to compromising my own.