Editor’s note: The news that the City of Ottawa has advised Belong Ottawa that Centre 454 must relocate from its longtime home in the basement of St. Albans Church in downtown Ottawa brought to mind a poem that writer James Andriulaitis shared with me some time ago. He kindly gave Perspective permission to publish it alongside our articles covering this crucial moment for Belong Ottawa and the many vulnerable people it serves and supports.
I was just walking down Metcalfe Street, on my way
to the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library,
when I saw a woman wearing a shirt that said,
“Grow through what you go through”, illustrated
with some various vegetables, and I really
loved and love that quote, with a thought of
telling her how much I liked it, though we had already
passed each other by.
Then came a thought that it only
tells the what, but not the how. And I then realized
that the only way to get to the how is with support. Unlike
the idea that we are spoon-fed from birth in our Western society
that says that this is something that we must do completely
on our own, that no one is responsible for anyone
but themselves, that tells us the fantasy
(and the lie), of people who
achieve greatness
against all odds.
It does have a wonderful sound to it,
and it makes a gloriously heroic archetype for movies and
the stories of our lives, so I can’t blame anyone too much for believing it.
The only problem with it is that it is almost true, but not quite.
Where it goes wrong is when it speaks of people
achieving greatness against all odds.
But no one can achieve greatness against all odds.
No one can achieve greatness against all manner of adversity
without having at least one thing going their way, without having at
least one advantage, often hidden, which helps tip the
teetering scales of life in their favour.
A recent rock sculpture from artist and writer James Andriulaitis. Photo: LA Williams
No one can achieve greatness feeling the whole
world hates them and not having a supportive family
and belonging to a stigmatized, marginalized
group and having every other disadvantage
that one could possibly conceive of.
There has to be at least one person, one role
model, whether it be a parent, a teacher, a preacher,
or someone of at least some standing in society
who doesn’t think they suck, who believes
in them, and who helps shine a light
to light a path through the thorny
brambles and obstacles that
this world often throws our way.
With that then comes the actual possibility
of being able to “Grow through what you go through”.
Amen to that.
— James Andriulaitis is a writer and artist living in Ottawa.
“Grow through what you go through.” Great—but how?
Editor’s note: The news that the City of Ottawa has advised Belong Ottawa that Centre 454 must relocate from its longtime home in the basement of St. Albans Church in downtown Ottawa brought to mind a poem that writer James Andriulaitis shared with me some time ago. He kindly gave Perspective permission to publish it alongside our articles covering this crucial moment for Belong Ottawa and the many vulnerable people it serves and supports.
I was just walking down Metcalfe Street, on my way
to the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library,
when I saw a woman wearing a shirt that said,
“Grow through what you go through”, illustrated
with some various vegetables, and I really
loved and love that quote, with a thought of
telling her how much I liked it, though we had already
passed each other by.
Then came a thought that it only
tells the what, but not the how. And I then realized
that the only way to get to the how is with support. Unlike
the idea that we are spoon-fed from birth in our Western society
that says that this is something that we must do completely
on our own, that no one is responsible for anyone
but themselves, that tells us the fantasy
(and the lie), of people who
achieve greatness
against all odds.
It does have a wonderful sound to it,
and it makes a gloriously heroic archetype for movies and
the stories of our lives, so I can’t blame anyone too much for believing it.
The only problem with it is that it is almost true, but not quite.
Where it goes wrong is when it speaks of people
achieving greatness against all odds.
But no one can achieve greatness against all odds.
No one can achieve greatness against all manner of adversity
without having at least one thing going their way, without having at
least one advantage, often hidden, which helps tip the
teetering scales of life in their favour.
No one can achieve greatness feeling the whole
world hates them and not having a supportive family
and belonging to a stigmatized, marginalized
group and having every other disadvantage
that one could possibly conceive of.
There has to be at least one person, one role
model, whether it be a parent, a teacher, a preacher,
or someone of at least some standing in society
who doesn’t think they suck, who believes
in them, and who helps shine a light
to light a path through the thorny
brambles and obstacles that
this world often throws our way.
With that then comes the actual possibility
of being able to “Grow through what you go through”.
Amen to that.
— James Andriulaitis is a writer and artist living in Ottawa.
Related articles:
Belong Ottawa’s Centre 454 asks City for an extension of its time at St. Albans
Ride fodr Refuge supports Centre 454 on Oct. 3.
Library exhibit showcases Belong Ottawa artists’ talent
“We are put here to blossom…to sing”
St. Albans concerned about Centre 454 transition
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