Learning how to live, not just survive

Dixie shared her story at our 2023 Sowing Seeds of Hope fall fundraiser while a guest at Mustard Seed Shelter.

November 2023

“I get to learn how to live while at Mustard Seed. Just like a seed, this place helps you grow. To be your true self.”

Dixie Lee

 

Hello, my name is Dixie.

I’m so happy to see so many wonderful people here tonight. I was asked if I would like to share a bit about my story and how I ended up finding my way to Mustard Seed.

I want to start off my story by saying this: You, on a psychological standpoint, seek out all you have ever known. Like learning how to walk. If you are taught to walk with a limp, then you will walk as such until the time comes that you learn different, which takes time and effort. So, if all I have ever known is abuse, false love, neglect, etc., from the time I was born to the day I stand here with you all, then it has been all I have sought out, for it has been all I’ve known.

I have a saying I tell people: “The cards I have been dealt are not a winning hand.”

Or: “I don’t have good luck or any at life” – always with a chuckle, ’cause it’s easier to cope if you laugh about it. Drug addiction and mental health issues that enable me at time to be “fit for society” or live a happy or healthy life.

I have struggled for as long as I can remember. And have yet to heal from anything that I have gone through. I have gone through hell to get to where I am today. For the past seven years, I’ve spent more time homeless than safe. I recently spent about 6-7 weeks couch-surfing or sitting under the Court Street bridge, all night, scared I might accidentally fall asleep and the worst happen.

If it were not for my long-time best friend “B” getting in contact with Amy I would not be safe right now. I don’t know where I would be. I would still be worried if I would get to eat on a daily basis or at all. Or if I would get a chance to sleep after not sleeping for days on end.

I don’t have to be scared. I don’t have to just survive for once in my life. I get to learn how to live while at Mustard Seed. Just like a seed, this place helps you grow. To be your true self. I may be new but I am so eternally grateful for the chance to grow. To live a better life. To live and not just survive. Thank you for listening to my story and for being here tonight!

 

September 2024 Update on Dixie

Since Dixie shared her story in November 2023, she has made incredible progress toward her goals. As she prepared to celebrate her 25th birthday in April, she celebrated many successes, including getting approved for Social Security disability benefits, getting a bank account and began the process of looking for housing. And at the end of August, she celebrated passing both her written and on-the-road tests!

“Everything is finally getting in motion,” she says. “I’ve never gotten this far. As I keep saying, Mustard Seed has given me an opportunity to live and not just survive.”