A rocking chair. A wooden, proper rocking chair.
My first thought was, "what smart ass put this in my office?" After all, it was my birthday and I am quickly becoming one of the oldest persons at the agency.
My second thought was, "who dumped this in my office?" followed by a passionate, "I hate that people keep dumping things in my office!" I often come to work to find some box, some item, some ridiculous thing in my office. Sucks that my office is in prime dumping space location. Oh, the dumpers usually return to the scene of the crime and pick up the dumped items, but it's still aggravating now and again.
I muttered aloud to myself about this rocking chair. I took a photo of the chair, then marched myself up the stairs, bitching loudly about it:
"Why the hell is there a rocking chair in my office?"
I took my phone out of my back pocket and messaged my two dog friends. (Isn't that the first thing you'd do if you found a mystery rocking chair in your office?) I attached the photo of said chair and sent a message: "What in tarnation?! I walk into my office and find this. Is this a joke about my age? Is this a present? Is it just sitting here waiting for a home?"
One of the dog friends replied, "Hopefully you get an explanation about the chair." I put my phone back in my pocket and continued my inquisition. I was determined to find the culprit and properly chastise them.
These are the dog friends of whom I went to California with on Christmas 2018. If you want to know more about these people or the California story, check out https://addiwp.blogspot.com/2018/12/end-of-year-babbling-from-addiverse.html but only after you've finished this blog entry. Just sayin.'
I asked several people about it. Blank, confused stares confirmed their innocence. It was then I heard laughing from down the hall. I turned back to find a co-worker laughing.
The Laugher: "Did you look at the chair?"
Me: "What the hell are you talking about?"
The Laugher: "Did you look at the chair? You should look at the chair."
Me: "Of course I looked at the chair! It's in the middle of my office."
The Laugher: "I'd take a closer look at the chair." He walked away, still chuckling.
I went and looked at the chair. "Looks like a damn rocking chair to me." I was still feeling a wee bit pissy that someone dumped this chair in my office with explanation.
I recognized it as one of the chairs we were purchasing for our trauma-informed care efforts at the agency. We raised funds so we could have a chair at every site--the same style chair from the same company. They are really sturdy chairs, purposefully picked out with the clients in mind. I was feeling a bit confused. So, I marched up to the CEO's office. If anyone had a clue, it'd be her.
I didn't knock. I plowed right in. Not even a hello.
Me: "Do you know anything about the rocking chair in my office?"
CEO: (suddenly looking teary-eyed) "You have really great friends."
Me: "Wait, what?"
CEO: "You have amazing friends."
Me: "That chair is from friends?"
CEO: "Have you asked on Facebook? Maybe you could post something and get some answers."
I could tell she wasn't going to give me much more than that, except asking the question:
CEO: "Did you look at the chair?"
Oh my god! Why do people keep saying that? What the hell! Do people think I'm blind? Okay, fine. I'll go look at the chair.
I returned to my office, CEO in tow. That gave me pause. The CEO is following me to my office to watch me look at the chair.
I looked at the chair. It finally dawned on me to look at the back of the chair. On it was a small gold placard engraved "AWP."
AWP. That's me. Now, I'm really confused.
I looked at the CEO, I looked at the chair, I looked at the CEO. Her only response was, again, "you have amazing friends." She's all teary-eyed again.
The rocking chair had been purchased for the agency... as a gift identified as being from me. I was dumbfounded...
Someone recognized my passion toward those I serve and for what I do.
Someone understood how important and meaningful this would be to me.
Someone was honoring those in need of trauma-informed care.
Hell, someone had done some research. After all, it's not like I walk around announcing we need rocking chairs for trauma-informed care efforts.
As the CEO's standing there, I take a photo of the placard, add it to the photo of the chair and made a post on my Facebook page, thanking the unidentified person/persons for the chair:
"To the wonderful mystery person/persons who were amazingly generous.... I am grateful beyond compare... and admittedly got a huge laugh at finding a rocking chair in my office. You have no idea what this means to me. I promise to find it the most perfect place to "live." THANK YOU! (The rocking chairs are part of the agency's trauma-informed care efforts, with chairs placed at the sites for clients to utilize.)"
Huh. I realized I should check the response to my dog people message.
There it was. There was my confirmation.
"AWP. There's supposed to be an engraved plaque that says AWP. That probably would have explained things a bit."
The CEO was still standing there. I looked at her while she looked at me. Still teary-eyed. I kept reading:
Wow. I was blown away. (And yes, I AM fully stocked in shitting unicorns, so that was a good call.)
I had a pretty big laugh about this. After all, I had immediately started bitching to the dog people about the chair. I was complaining to the people who purchased the chair! Lots of comments on Facebook ensued. Lots of fun messenger posts were swapped. Lots of warm happiness oozed in my very being all day.
I do have amazing friends.
To know the chair would be of help to a client in crisis or working on trauma issues means the world to me. It's impossible to convey how much this gift means. All I could do is squeak out a public thanks and explain to those looking at the photos....
"Providing rocking chairs to those working on trauma issues affords opportunity for self-soothing and grounding. The counselor and art therapist in me is humbled by your thoughtfulness... recognition of the population of whom I serve touches my soul. Much love to you!"
I was giddy the rest of the day.
It was up to me to decide where the rocking chair would "go." I figured that would take a lot of thought and some time, so I decided to the chair right where it was placed. I could move it once a decision was made.
The CEO suggested it stay in the building where my office is, noting we don't have a rocking chair in the building. What a great idea!
And so, the chair lives in my office. When clients come in--I get a lot of drop-in visits--they immediately sit in the rocking chair and start rocking. No invitation needed.
I can see the stress ooze right off their very being. Rocking actually works. No need for me to share scientific research when I can see it work right in front of my eyes.
When staff stop by, I always point to the chair and invite them to take a seat. Those who do are immediately relaxed and always make positive comments. Those who don't are missing out. I'll keep inviting them, with hopes they'll sit for a spell.
This is the a gift that gives and keeps giving. It makes a difference. You don't have to have experienced trauma to enjoy a rocking chair. But, if you have experienced trauma and you're having a tough day, rocking is often soothing... so, rocking chairs are great therapeutic tools.
Some day, I may move the rocking chair out of my office. Today is not that day. Wherever it ends up, it will have "AWP" inscribed on it and thus I will be wherever it ends up being. The dog friends will also be there. They get to go where the rocking chair goes, too.
I'm glad I looked at the chair.
If you visit, come sit a spell. You'll be all the better for doing so.
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