TELLING MY STORY

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Telling my story
by Phillip Cooke

You think you know me?

You think you can tell my story?

What I can and can’t handle?

Why do you try to set up a wall?

Place me in a box?

Surround me with a barb-wire fence?

Label me and put me in some “neat” category?

Trust is earned–not demanded!

Assumptions are detrimental to the human spirit, mind, and body

Lies seek to kill and destroy

Hate divides and conquers

I only know me

Only I can tell MY story!

I know what I can and can’t handle

I bust down walls

The box gets broken down and disposed

The barb-wire fence is forever snapped

From the same red blood are all nations and peoples of the Earth

Trust is precious like gold

It’s oK to say I don’t know 

The truth sets me free

Love builds bridges and connects people together

I know where I have been

I know where I am today

I know where I’m going tomorrow

So I ask again

Do you know who I am?

NO! I know who I am!!

I know what I can and can’t handle

Phillip Cooke

About the Author

Phillip Cooke

Education: Berea College (AAS Industrial Technology Management, 1995), Columbus State Community College (AA, 1998), Ohio State University (BA Geography, 2002), *Southern New Hampshire University (MA Communication) *10/2021-present

Peer Specialist, Bee Well LLC, Fountain House Member, Education Unit, Fountain House Certified Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (#CRPA-P-4290) Certified Peer Specialist-Provisional (#NYCPS-P-3522) Certified Tax Preparer, Community Tax Aid/Fountain House Academy of Peer Services Support Volunteer, Peer Academy, Fountain House Connecticut Center for Addiction Recovery-Designated Recovery Coach (CCAR-RC) Certified Opioid Overdose First Responder (as of August 1, 2018) safeTalk-Trained Suicide Prevention Counselor (as of July 20, 2017) Public Speaker, Writer, and Group Facilitator Founder, Hope and Success For The People Founding Board Member (Treasurer) and Volunteer, The Friendship Squad Member and Volunteer, Access To Recovery Coalition Volunteer Staff Writer, helpNYC Corporation Board Member At-Large and Co-Chair Professional Affairs and Development Committee, New York Association of Black Psychologists (as of September 14, 2021) Editorial Board Member, Mental Health Affairs Blog Master of Arts Degree Candidate, Communication-New Media and Marketing (Online), Southern New Hampshire University Ph.D. Seminar Student, Mental Health Psychoanalysis, Harlem Family Institute Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (Hon. D.D.), Ordained Minister, Universal Life Church

pfleming@balticstreet.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-dr-phillip-fleming-19b193150/

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