Graham's comment on yesterdays post reminded me of a time I had to admit I might be sheltered.
My course requires me to undertake professional supervision once a month. I still haven't figured out the differences between mentoring, coaching and supervision but you get the idea.
My supervisor, Tracey is a dynamic, warm and hilarious woman who also gets straight to the point. I had spent a couple of days trying to be useful at the Christmas hamper collection centre and I was telling Tracey about one client who had sat down on the floor with her box of food, asked for a knife to open it and proceeded to inspect the contents. She re-packed most of the items into carry bags, leaving the unwanted things on the floor.
I was completely gobsmacked by this and told Tracey that I couldn't believe my eyes when it unfolded.
With a glint in her eye, she said "Oh, are you a little bit sheltered, Kylie?"
I'm sure some of us are very sheltered from some of the weirder goings on.
ReplyDeletesheltered is a relative term, isn't it?
DeleteI am also sheltered from a lot of things. And grateful - though my horizons are expanding...
ReplyDeleteKnowing about things doesn't hit the same way as seeing it
DeleteThe woman's actions would not have seemed unusual at all to me. But, then I am probably sheltered to some extent, too.
ReplyDeletePutting it into carry bags made sense. Leaving some on the floor seemed ungrateful but I would be the first person to say that charity recipients shouldn't have to just accept anything so the hypocrisy was all mine.
DeleteIf you're a little bit sheltered, then so am I. It would never have occurred to me that someone would vet the contents of the food box. But I'm sure we're all ignorant about all sorts of things people get up to. That doesn't make us "sheltered" necessarily, just not "in the loop".
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess I was sheltered in the context. I haven't ever been to a hamper distribution before and I don't know what happens in welfare agencies
DeleteI get it. Maybe I've been more exposed to poverty and the little dignity that remains is very important. Why can't they be "fussy?" I remember when we stocked clothing for those re-entering work forces after exiting horrible situations. I learned from that. We are all entitled to preferences. We have to be so careful of "othering".
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
many, many times I have been "gifted" with other peoples junk but I've regarded any free food as worth having. Not everyone sees it that way and it's ok, I just had to think about my reaction.
DeleteI prefer to think of myself as tragically unhip, rather than sheltered.
ReplyDeleteI agree with wisewebwoman's comment about dignity.
Tragically unhip! Somehow I doubt that.
DeleteI would feel undignified by dumping things on the floor but as I say, it's all about me learning
All in all, it made sense for the woman to leave what she would not use behind. Then it could be given to someone who would use it, and she would not have to carry it either. When I give to a food drive, I try to give things I like and would use. But that metric would be different for every donor and every recipient.
ReplyDeleteBut I also have been sheltered, to address your point :)
I've been up close with food drive donations and some of it is out of date, damaged or dusty. I have no patience with that
DeleteKnowing about things doesn't hit the same way as seeing it.
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
I've grown soft as I've aged - I was exposed to all sorts of things when I was younger, now I'm living in my self made bubble.
Sx
Yea, I think we all work towards a life we want and who doesn't want a gentle bubble
DeleteI am gobsmacked too at the comment by your Supervisor!
ReplyDeleteI never thought about it but I can see that it was not quite objective!
DeleteJust been catching up on recent posts. Thanks for taking us to The Zin House. That meal looked scrumptious I must say. As for being "sheltered", at first I thought you were referring to residential care! I guess I have lived a sheltered life.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has been a teacher for just two years and already has some hair raising stories. I don't think you can possibly be sheltered
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